IRVINE, Calif. (April 7, 2010) – Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.’s (TMHU) large IC pneumatic lift truck was honored in Plant Engineering magazine’s annual "Product of the Year" awards program, winning gold in the Material Handling Systems category.

For more than 20 years, Plant Engineering’s "Product of the Year" has been renowned as the industry’s most distinguished award for innovation in manufacturing products. According to the publication, it is bestowed only to those manufacturers who have created the best new ideas that make plant management better, faster and smarter.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this prestigious award from Plant Engineering and its readers for Toyota’s large IC pneumatic lift truck," said Brett Wood, president of TMHU. "It’s an honor to be recognized for our product’s productivity, safety and ergonomic features."

Award recipients are determined based on votes received from the readers of Plant Engineering magazine, whose job roles include plant managers and plant engineers. This achievement was formally acknowledged before an audience of the nation’s leading plant managers at the 2010 Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit in Chicago.About the Large IC Pneumatic Lift Truck

Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc. offers a line of large IC pneumatic lift trucks designed for demanding applications, including construction, lumber yards, metal fabricators, agriculture, and concrete and masonry yards. With models available ranging in 33,000- to 51,000-pound capacities at a 36” load center, Toyota’s large IC pneumatic lift trucks are equipped with a powerful 6.7-liter J-Series Hino diesel engine along with a number of ergonomic and safety features designed with the safety and comfort of the operator in mind. The Hino engine meets Environmental Protection Agency Tier 3 compliance regulations and provides optimal performance. Another feature is the exclusive two-speed, two-stator transmission that requires less maintenance than a comparable three-speed transmission. In addition, it is designed to handle more torque and contains fewer parts to service. To increase productivity and operator comfort, standard on the series of large IC lift trucks is a wide view, enclosed front pillar-less cabin with air conditioning and heating with automotive style ergonomics allowing easy reach of all controls.About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based TMHU has been the No. 1 selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. TMHU, as the sole United States distributor for Aichi, now offers a line-up of aerial work lifts, including scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts designed specifically to meet a wide range of indoor and outdoor needs.

Quality, durability and reliability are the hallmarks of the Toyota Production System practiced at Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM). Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM, a zero-landfill facility, in Columbus, Ind.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 188 dealership locations throughout the United States offer comprehensive customer service and support, including one-stop shopping for both new and used lift trucks, rentals, parts and service, fleet servicing and financing.