Hyster named a finalist in World Hydrogen Awards
Zero-emission top-pick container handler recognized as a contender for the 2023 award Hyster Company announces its selection by the Sustainable Energy Council (SEC) as one of four finalists in the industrial application category of the World Hydrogen 2023 Awards, presented to a company that has made positive contributions to the use of hydrogen and its industrial application over the previous year. Hyster is in the running for this award for designing and manufacturing the world’s first top-pick container handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells (HFC), which is currently being piloted at the Fenix Marine Services terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Building on the industry standard Hyster® H1050-1150XD-CH top-pick container handler design, the truck is powered by two Nuvera® 45 kW hydrogen fuel cells, working in tandem with an onboard lithium-ion battery to either power the equipment directly or charge the onboard battery. It provides the zero emissions benefit of a battery-only electric option, but with enough energy capacity to keep operations moving for a full shift, avoiding the need to interrupt productivity and stop to recharge or refuel. Refueling the top pick with hydrogen can take as little as 15 minutes, and is designed to provide 8 to 10 hours of continuous run time while producing no harmful emissions – only water and heat. The top pick also features a patented energy recovery system that recovers and stores energy from lowering loads and braking, delivering more uptime and efficiency to save on energy requirements. The HFC-powered top pick is part of a broader approach by Hyster to use hydrogen fuel cells to enable the electrification of vehicles and equipment in more demanding applications that may not be a fit for power by batteries alone. “This HFC-powered top-pick pilot is an important step to meeting the demand for electrification at ports. Whether equipment is powered by battery or hydrogen fuel cells, terminal operations need to have options that meet the daily realities of their application as they plan for emissions reduction targets,” says Lyndle McCurley, Vice President, Big Trucks, Hyster Company. “Our customers deserve options that allow them to build the right solution based on their needs, not limited selection or shoehorning a single power technology.” Compared to traditional internal combustion engine-powered equipment, the emissions savings from a single HFC-powered top pick are estimated to be 127 tons of carbon dioxide and almost half a ton of criteria pollution over the course of the year. The HFC top-pick project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, improving public health and the environment, and providing meaningful benefits to the most disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households. “The Port of Los Angeles is proud to partner with Hyster in their work on hydrogen fuel cell technology,” says Chris Cannon, Chief Sustainability Officer, of the Port of Los Angeles. “Not only does that work help the Port reach its zero-emissions goals, but it pushes the needle for what is possible for the future of clean cargo handling.” One winner in each of the six categories will be recognized on May 9, 2023, during the World Hydrogen 2023 Summit & Exhibition in the Rotterdam Ahoy, Netherlands, organized by Sustainable Energy Council in partnership with the Province of Zuid-Holland, the City of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam.
Available Material Handling
SeaPac Engineering
Maintainco Equipment Co
Are you prepared to talk MTM to your banker?
Hey, let’s talk MTM, otherwise, known as Mark to Market. You will soon become very familiar with this phrase. Especially if you are renewing your banking arrangements or are looking for a new loan or loans for 23 and beyond. How about we see if your banker has a sense of humor? When he/she asks for your latest Balance Sheet, how about your ask to see the bank’s Balance Sheet to see if they are liquid and will be able to process your payroll when it comes due? But if you are in serious negotiations with the bank you may want to skip this idea. A number of banks are worried about what is going on in the banking arena. Thus, they will take steps to increase their liquidity which in turn reduces any incentive they have to make loans. NOT GOOD FOR YOU if you have not finalized your arrangements for this year. This is where MTM comes into play because banks will scrutinize the individual categories on your balance sheet to determine whether they are valid, correctly accounted for, and properly valued. Gee, that sounds like what they were doing regarding SVB. They may even ask you to have an audit performed by an agreed-upon accounting firm, hopefully, one that understands your business. They may also ask for annual equipment valuations encompassing both used equipment as well as rental assets. Do not be surprised if they ask for both orderly liquidation values (OLV) and forced liquidation values (FLV). They need these values to mark your assets to market. Which in turn is processed as part of their MTM calculation. And you can imagine how difficult the process can be with the past as well as current used values increasing because of a standard demand/supply situation. If you were in the banker’s shoes, how would you value used equipment as well as recently purchased rental units in terms of loan collateral? I find the answer to this question perplexing. Think about it. Let’s consider some assumptions. Cost of a unit five years ago at $20,000 The cost of the new unit is currently at $26000 to $28,000 Book value of the five-year-old unit. $6,000 The current auction price is $10,000 New EV units coming into market……$30,000 This is a rough idea of what is going on with all types of business equipment. The point is that used prices and demand/supply force prices higher. Lack of new units forces used prices higher. EV units are more costly than current units. Put this all into a blender and I would hate to be the banker required to provide MTM numbers for these units, especially if their loan portfolio stretches over 5-6 years, which is probable in an industry that supplies both short and long-term rental activity. If I were the banker I would be saying. …..here is a used unit that was probably worth $6,000 a few years ago which is now selling for $10,000. What will it be worth (OLV or FLV) five years from now? What if we enter a recession? What if inflation cools or deflation takes hold because of a recession? How much of the inflated costs will stick if there is a recession? If I could build that new machine in 2024 or 2025 for using costs for materials with a cost close to what they were the year before the pandemic hit, what would the value be assuming the labor costs would stick? Would the increase in the used units remain higher than it would have been if the pandemic and related demand/supply issues did not materialize? In the end, the banker is interested in collateral value he can use as a market. What is that market today and what will it be like four or five years from now? He/she will err on the conservative side which means lower collateral value and thus fewer assets to use to make loans. I guess the annual equipment valuations will eventually smooth out and stage the used units by age and hours which will be lower than what you would have to pay for the unit today. Make sense? In the end, it will be tougher when it comes to negotiating with the bank this year. Remember it will be LONGER and HIGHER for some time which translates into higher interest rates for maybe years to come. And that BALANCE SHEET management I keep harping about will provide what the bank needs to support your loans or it will not. I would do my homework regarding the market of the collateral you are providing and how that collateral will provide liquidity as the loan is amortized. This will be a very crazy year. Do your homework and be prepared to show your historical GP margins from used equipment sales including the used rental units as well. One last issue to discuss. It pertains to the commercials about the ERC credits available to companies that qualify. If you did not receive any ERC money to date and you qualified for it, somebody screwed up. But if you didn’t qualify, then nobody screwed up. So, before you sign up with a third-party ERC consultant make absolutely sure you qualify for the funds. I would take the docs to either an independent accounting or law firm familiar with this program. Because There is a lot of money involved It is taxable The consultants take a hefty fee The IRS will audit these transactions and you may have to pay it back if they find you are not entitled to the payment. You do not want to be in this position. About the Columnist: Garry Bartecki is a CPA MBA with GB Financial Services LLC and a Wholesaler columnist since August 1993. E-mail editorial@mhwmag.com to contact Garry.
KION Group off to a strong start in fiscal year 2023
KION Group is off to a strong start in the fiscal year 2023 Business development in the ITS segment in the first quarter was significantly better than expected KION Group, therefore, raises its 2023 outlook Adjusted Group EBIT in the first quarter is expected to amount to €156 million (previous year: €170.3 million) Significantly positive free cash flow of €105 million anticipated (previous year: €-432.6 million) SCS segment in line with KION Group expectations – order volume significantly below the prior-year quarter Based on preliminary figures, the KION Group recorded better-than-expected business performance in the first quarter of 2023 thanks to the Industrial Trucks & Services (ITS) segment. The significant increase in adjusted EBIT in the ITS segment to an expected €177 million (previous year: €114.2 million) mainly reflected the improving supply chain situation and pull-forward benefits from operational and commercial agility. As a result, the preliminary adjusted EBIT margin for ITS rose to 8.8 percent (previous year: 6.6 percent). Accordingly, the KION Group’s adjusted EBIT was better than expected. “The strong development in the ITS segment shows that the measures we have introduced are taking effect. That is why we have raised our outlook. The Group is well on the way to sustainably increasing profitability,” said Rob Smith, CEO of KION GROUP AG. The development of revenue and adjusted EBIT at SCS was in line with KION Group expectations. Order volumes in the SCS segment were significantly lower than the prior year’s level due to continued restraint in customers’ investment decisions causing delays in new orders. Free cash flow is expected to be clearly positive at €105 million (previous year: €-432.6 million). In addition to operating profit, stable net working capital compared with year-end 2022 was a major contributory factor. Due to the strong first quarter at ITS, the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG has adjusted the outlook for the fiscal year 2023 for the Group and for the ITS segment as follows: Outlook 2023 KION Group Industrial Trucks & Services Supply Chain Solutions Outlook 2023 Outlook 2023 adjusted Outlook 2023 Outlook 2023 adjusted Outlook 2023 unchanged Revenue1 minimum €11.0 billion minimum €11.2 billion minimum €7.8 billion minimum €8.0 billion minimum €3.2 billion EBIT adjusted1 minimum €550 million minimum €615 million minimum €600 million minimum €665 million minimum €65 million Free Cashflow minimum €500 million minimum €565 million – – – ROCE minimum 5.0% minimum 5.5% – – – 1 Disclosures for the Industrial Trucks & Services and Supply Chain Solutions segments also include intragroup cross-segment revenue and effects on EBIT. KION Group’s key performance indicators for the first quarter, which ended March 31, 2023 (preliminary results) € million Q1/2023 Q1/2022 Revenue Industrial Trucks & Services Supply Chain Solutions 2,781 2,005 783 2,734.5 1,718.4 1,019.8 EBIT adjusted [1] Industrial Trucks & Services Supply Chain Solutions 156 177 7 170.3 114.2 74.0 Free Cashflow [2] 105 -432.6 Order Intake Industrial Trucks & Services Supply Chain Solutions 2,444 1,957 498 2,900.1 2,082.1 843.2 [1] Adjusted for purchase price allocation items and non-recurring items [2] Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities plus cash flow from investing activities
Pacific Coast Iron joins LiuGong North America Dealer lineup
Pacific Coast Iron, Inc. is the latest West Coast construction equipment dealer to join the rapidly expanding LiuGong North America dealership network. Pacific Coast Iron leaders said they partnered with LiuGong to continue selling premium construction equipment at a fair market value. “We wanted to provide our customer base with the latest market products that are both affordable and reliable,” said Pacific Coast Iron Marketing Manager Kami Louis. Pacific Coast Iron is a national heavy equipment dealership located near Sacramento, California. Established in 2013, the business brings a decade of experience buying and selling heavy equipment to the LiuGong dealer lineup, along with a wealth of relationships with dealers, buyers, and other industry stakeholders. Pacific Coast Iron has grown tremendously over the last few years, from having only a handful of clients to currently servicing hundreds of customers worldwide that continually list machines through their dealership. LiuGong North America President Andrew Ryan said their growth is a testament to the excellent reputation Pacific Coast Iron has in the region, and it will be integral to expanding the LiuGong footprint across North America. “We are always seeking out reputable dealers to join our network and expand our reach in key markets across the country, and Pacific Coast Iron fits the bill,” Ryan said. “We’re looking forward to working together to mutually grow our businesses and impact throughout the region.” Pacific Coast Iron is headquartered in Placerville, California with an additional branch location further south in Jackson. The dealership serves the construction industry across California and Western Nevada for rentals and service and provides sales worldwide.
Carolina Handling named Raymond Dealer of Distinction for 32nd consecutive year
Carolina Handling has been named a Dealer of Distinction (DOD) by The Raymond Corporation for the 32nd year in a row. The DOD award is given annually to the top performers among Raymond Solutions and Support Centers throughout North America. Carolina Handling, the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida’s Central time zone territory is one of only seven Raymond dealers to receive the 2022 designation. Being named a Dealer of Distinction is based on points scored in the categories of Market Share, Financial Performance, Customer Support Performance, Service Contract Growth, Scheduled Maintenance Completion, Raymond Lean Management, iWarehouse® Solutions, Purchase of Lease Maturities, Forecast Accuracy and Energy Storage Solutions. Categories cover virtually all areas of the business, including sales, service, parts, rentals, leasing, continuous improvement, power, and intralogistics solutions. A point of pride for Carolina Handling associates, the Dealer of Distinction award also is a strength in the marketplace, said Carolina Handling President & CEO Brent Hillabrand. “As a customer, you know you’re getting the most well-rounded and consistent support you could ever dream of because of the way we perform year after year against our peers,” Hillabrand said. The 2022 DOD designation comes at a time when warehouses and distribution centers are experiencing dramatic and swift operational changes and during a period of steady growth for Carolina Handling. “The bigger we get, the easier it would be to become fragmented and not work as a team,” Hillabrand said. “The fact that we scored so many points in so many different areas is a testament to our teamwork. The consistency with which our associates perform as teams in the different areas of our business is the reason that we continue to succeed.” As a Raymond Solutions and Support Center, Carolina Handling is a total intralogistics solutions provider, offering a broad range of consulting, connected technologies, material handling equipment, and service to support the growing and changing needs of the industry. The Dealer of Distinction Award comes on the heels of Carolina Handling’s receiving the 2023 MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award from the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) for excellence in customer service, supplier relationships, associate training, and community involvement.
PTDA Foundation now accepting nominations for 2023 Leadership Awards
Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award and Robert K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award nominations are open through June 9th The PTDA Foundation is seeking nominations for its Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award and Robert (Bob) K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award. The Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman who, regardless of where she is in her career, brought change as an integral contributor to the success of her company and the PT/MC industry in 2022. The PTDA Foundation established the award in 2014 to honor the memory of Wendy B. McDonald, one of the PT/MC industry’s true pioneers known for her legendary philanthropy and commitment to giving back to the industry and the communities that led to her success. The award is presented annually when merited. Nominations will be accepted through June 9, 2023. Award criteria can be found at ptda.org/McDonaldAward. The Robert (Bob) K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award recognizes young and ambitious individuals who demonstrate a passion and drive to grow within the PT/MC industry. The late Bob Callahan made a lifelong commitment to supporting the advancement of next-generation trailblazers in the PT/MC industry. The award was established in his honor. Nominations are due by June 9, 2023, and criteria can be found at ptda.org/CallahanAward. Nominations are not gender specific—all are welcome to be considered. Both awards will be presented at the PTDA 2023 Industry Summit in Amelia Island, Fla. in October.
CLARK Material Handling Company recognizes the 2023 Dealer of Excellence winners
CLARK Material Handling Company, a top-ten global manufacturer of forklift trucks and spare parts, has announced the winners of the 2023 Dealer of Excellence and 2023 Dealer of Excellence Advantage awards. The CLARK Dealer of Excellence awards are presented annually to dealers in the CLARK dealer network that achieve high performance within their assigned regions. The six Dealer of Excellence Advantage winners represent the “Best of the Best” of the CLARK Dealer Network, providing high-quality customer service and solving their customers’ needs. Based on 2022 performance, the following six dealers have earned the Dealer of Excellence Advantage award for 2023: Sunbelt Material Handling – Dallas, Texas Forklifts of Minnesota – Bloomington, Minnesota Brandt Tractor – Regina, Saskatchewan C&B Material Handling – Shreveport, Louisiana The Lilly Company – Birmingham, Alabama Ardent Industrial Equipment – Savannah, Georgia Additionally, CLARK recognizes Darr Equipment LP with the Headwinds Award, recognizing its efforts in the face of great challenges since becoming an authorized CLARK dealer in early 2020. CLARK also recognizes Forklifts of Minnesota as the 2023 Dealer of the Year. “Each of these dealers represents the best of the CLARK dealer network. Through their hard work, determination, and dedication to the CLARK brand, the six Dealer of Excellence Advantage winners have truly earned their place at the top of the dealer network. We are proud to have each in our network, and as part of the larger CLARK family,” commented Dennis Lawrence, President and CEO of CLARK. Additionally, CLARK announced the following dealers who exceeded expectations in all categories, achieving Dealer of Excellence distinction for their 2022 performance. The Lilly Company – Knoxville C&B Material Handling LLC Valley Industrial Trucks, Inc. Buffalo Lift Trucks B&H Industrial Service Mid Atlantic Industrial Equipment Alliance Material Handling – Jessup Alliance Material Handling – Richmond Materials Handling Equipment Cal-Lift, Inc Frontier Forklifts and Service, Inc. Holt of California Lift Atlanta Electro Mechanical Services Ltd MS Equipment, Inc. JM Equipment Lift Truck Sales and Service National Lift Truck Green Diamond Equipment Tri Lift – Greensboro Tri Lift – Charlotte “Our dealer network is one of the strongest in the industry, with a unique blend of dealers representing a wide variety of structures, backgrounds, and goals. Our Dealers of Excellence winners showcase the strength of the dealer network, providing strong partnerships that will carry us into the future. We are proud to recognize these dealers for their efforts in 2022,” added Brandon Bullard, Director of Sales and Marketing.
Toyota Material Handling introduces new Electric Walkie Stacker
Fast charging capability maximizes uptime and productivity; Available for order online at the MyToyota Store Toyota Material Handling has recently launched a new electric walkie-stacker under the brand Tora-Max, adding to the company’s growing portfolio of material handling products and solutions. The Tora-Max Walkie Stacker offers supreme versatility, accessibility, and load stability. The new walkie-stacker adds to Toyota’s industry-leading lineup of electric products and is an ideal solution for customers in the warehousing, manufacturing, beverage, retail, and distribution industries. The new model is available for order online, on the MyToyota Store, and at TMH dealers across North America. “The Tora-Max Walkie Stacker is perfect for customers who need a fast, turnkey solution for their material handling needs,” said Tony Miller, Toyota Material Handling Senior Vice President of Engineering, Operations, and Strategic Planning. “This product launch is the latest example of Toyota’s mission to provide versatile and valuable solutions for any type of customer.” The Tora-Max Walkie Stacker is designed with the versatility to handle light-duty loads and includes pinwheel capability to easily navigate tight aisles and compact spaces with optimal comfort and control. The six different mast options and adjustable base legs provide additional stability and allow operators to fine-tune the equipment to stack a variety of load sizes within the model’s 2,600-pound capacity. The ergonomic hand grips, fingertip controls and directional thumb wheels sustain productivity levels while ensuring operator comfort. The Tora-Max Walking Stacker also includes a 24V lithium-ion battery and a built-in charger for faster charging times. The charger works with standard wall outlets, and regenerative braking keeps any operation running efficiently. Additional features available with this model include an LCD battery indicator screen, which shows battery usage and fault codes, and a PIN code access or RFID access panel to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized use.
ELOKON hires female industry veteran Filippone as Chief Operating Officer
ELOKON, a provider of forklift telematics and safety systems, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Ute Filippone as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Ute Filippone brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the ELOKON team. Prior to joining ELOKON, Ute Filippone served in executive roles at a leading, NASDAQ quoted US company in our industry, where she oversaw operations of the company’s European subsidiaries and international expansion. Her extensive experience in both operations and internationalization make her a perfect fit for ELOKON as the company continues to expand its global presence. “We are thrilled to welcome Ute Filippone to ELOKON,” said Alexander Glasmacher, CEO of ELOKON. “Her deep industry expertise and proven track record in driving operational excellence will be invaluable for our plans for ongoing growth. As COO, she will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of ELOKON’s operations, including manufacturing, supply chain management, and customer service. She will work closely with the rest of the executive team to realize the company’s strategic vision.” “ELOKON is a leader in its industry and I am looking forward to being part of this talented team to help drive its success as we continue to innovate and increase our offering on the global market,” said Ute Filippone.
Hyster recognizes resilient, high-performing Dealer of Distinction recipients for 2022
Hyster Company announces the recipients of its 2022 Dealer of Distinction award, recognizing its strong commitment to materials handling excellence and customer satisfaction. The award honors dealer partners that have exhibited leadership and continue to drive their organizations to the highest level of performance. Customers depend on the expertise and reliable support of Hyster® dealers to help them navigate a wide range of tough challenges. “Every year, Dealer of Distinction recipients demonstrate their willingness to enhance capabilities and commitment to the safety and well-being of their associates while meeting increasingly demanding recognition criteria,” says Bob Sattler, Vice President, of Dealer Business Development. “Our dealers have the breadth of knowledge and experience to guide customers towards maximizing performance in every aspect of lift truck operation, from safety and evolving motive power options to maintenance and fleet management support.” To receive the award, dealers must meet rigorous business practice standards and performance criteria which are assessed and modified annually to ensure they align with evolving customer expectations and heightened industry demands. 2022 Dealer of Distinction recipients North America Alta Material Handling – New England North Arnold Machinery – Utah Briggs Equipment – Gulf Coast Deep South Equipment – Legacy Deep South Equipment – Oklahoma Eastern Lift Truck – Baltimore/District of Columbia/Delaware Gregory Poole – Carolinas Gregory Poole – Virginia LiftOne – North LiftOne – South LiftOne – West MH Equipment – Illinois MH Equipment – Indianapolis MH Equipment – Iowa MH Equipment – Kentuckiana Papé – Central Washington Papé – Eugene Papé – Fresno Papé – Portland Papé – Seattle Papé – Southern CA – North Papé – Southern CA – South Papé – Spokane Latin America Briggs Equipment S.A. de C.V.-Mexico Copama – Panama Tattersall Maquinarias-Chile
Toyota Material Handling honors top Forklift Dealers with President’s Award
Toyota Material Handling (TMH) announced the winners of the annual President’s Award, which recognizes the top Toyota forklift dealers in North America, during the company’s annual dealer meeting in Nashville. The prestigious award recognizes the dealers who perform at the highest level in parts, service, equipment sales, finance, customer satisfaction, and overall operations. The winners of the 2022 President’s Award are: Brodie Toyota-Lift, Lawrence, Massachusetts Conger Toyota-Lift, Green Bay, Wisconsin Hull Toyota Lift, Elkhart, Indiana Industrial Truck Service, Winnipeg, Manitoba JIT Toyota-Lift, Frewsburg, New York Lift, Inc., Mountville, Pennsylvania Liftow Limited, Mississauga, Ontario Shoppa’s Material Handling, Fort Worth, Texas Southern States Toyotalift, Tampa, Florida The Lilly Company, Memphis, Tennessee Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., East Syracuse, New York Toyota Lift of Houston, Houston, Texas Toyota Lift of South Texas, San Antonio, Texas Toyota Material Handling Systems, Suwanee, Georgia Watts Equipment Company, Manteca, California “The President’s Award is our most prestigious honor, reserved for those who deliver a superior customer experience,” said Bill Finerty, TMH President & CEO. “Toyota Material Handling forklift dealers have a longstanding reputation for consistently going above and beyond for our customers. These dealers represent the best of the best, and we’re proud to honor them and their commitment to excellent customer service.”
Yale announces recipients of the 2022 Dealer of Excellence award
Yale Lift Truck Technologies announces winners of the 2022 Dealer of Excellence award, the company’s top honor for members of the Yale® dealer network. The award recognizes lift truck dealers that have exhibited focused leadership and continue to drive their organizations to the highest level of performance in all functional areas of materials handling. “Our entrepreneurial, independent dealer network gives us a distinct competitive advantage, and is integral to providing the expert knowledge and support that drives customer satisfaction and attracts new business,” says Bob Sattler, Vice President of Dealer Business Development. “The consistency with which this year’s award recipients stand out amongst a talented network of dealers is extraordinary.” To receive the award, dealers must meet rigorous business practice standards and performance criteria which are assessed and modified annually for alignment with evolving customer expectations and heightened industry demands. “Our dealers aren’t constrained by factory ownership or red tape,” says Sattler. “They are wholly focused on providing customers with the best solutions and the most responsive service possible.” Dealer of Excellence recipients are awarded a trip to celebrate their achievement April 12-16 at The Lodge at Sea Island in St. Simons Island, Georgia. 2022 Dealers of Excellence – North America Alta Material Handling – Eastern Michigan Alta Material Handling – Western Michigan Alta Material Handling – New England Central Berry Material Handling Black Equipment – North Burns Industrial Equipment – Pittsburgh Eastern Lift Truck – Baltimore, District of Columbia, Delaware Eastern Lift Truck – Philly – South Jersey Fairchild Equipment – Wisconsin North Gregory Poole – Carolinas Insley-McEntee LiftOne – North LiftOne – South Medley Material Handling – West MH Equipment – Iowa MH Equipment – Ohio North Riekes Equipment – Legacy Wheeler Material Handling – Carolinas 2022 Dealers of Excellence – Latin America Serv Iman – Panama Disagro – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala
Episode 372: The Toyota Forklift Learning Studio
Brett Wood, CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America, joins The New Warehouse to discuss his impressions at ProMat 2023 and share details about a special project in collaboration with Cornell University. Be sure to tune in to find out how The Forklift Learning Studio at Cornell provides students at the university with exposure to innovative technology and robotics. This is helping to bring more attention to the warehouse industry by making it more attractive for younger generations. Semi-Automated Forklifts Growing labor shortages are pushing the industry to discover new solutions, such as semi-autonomous forklifts that can be used for multiple tasks. One potential solution on display at this year’s ProMat show was a hybrid semi-automated forklift. Kevin and Brett discuss how these machines allow for operation with the help of laborers during the day and then automation for the night shift. With such a system, companies can continue operations without needing more labor and remain effective even in times of shortage. Forklift Learning Studio Toyota Material Handling donated forklifts that enable students to learn more about thermodynamics, hydraulics, electronics, and battery-operated systems while exploring the physics behind combustion engines. The Forklift Learning Studio, spearheaded by Cornell University’s professors Brian Kirby and David Erickson, allows students to apply engineering principles they learn in the classroom. The studio enables students to gain hands-on learning experience as they build their knowledge of engineering principles related to forklift operations. Developing Future Engineers Through the Forklift Learning Studio As the stats below show, forklifts play a critical role in the global supply chain. Introducing young students to alternative industries, such as forklifts, conveyors, robots, and autonomous vehicles, is an opportunity to help develop future engineers and foster a spirit of continuous improvement. Cornell and Forklift Learning Studio provide students with hands-on experiences that many missed out on. Toyota Material Handling builds a forklift every three minutes. Over 330,000 forklifts were sold in North America last year, and over 2 million worldwide. The forklift industry is now 65% electric and will become 80% electric in five to ten years. Roughly 5,000 Toyota and Raymond employees work on forklifts daily. Four million people drive a forklift daily. Key Takeaways Cornell’s forklift learning studio exposes students to engineering principles related to the product and industry of a forklift. The studio is open to classes of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who can use tools a mechanic would use to learn about different parts of truck systems. The ProMat show broke a record for exhibitors and attendees, boosting the industry’s interest in robotics and automation. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 372: The Toyota Forklift Learning Studio
Raymond expands energy solutions portfolio with new 48V drop-in lithium battery
The new battery offers reduced maintenance, easy installation, and full integration with Raymond® chargers and telematics The Raymond Corporation has expanded its line of advanced energy solutions with the launch of the Energy Essentials Distributed by Raymond® 48-volt drop-in lithium-ion battery (48V LIB), which is available in multiple configurations to meet a variety of customer demands. “The 48-volt drop-in lithium-ion battery offers customers a smart alternative energy solution to upgrade existing or new lift trucks,” said Damon Hosmer, senior product marketing manager, energy storage technology and integration, The Raymond Corporation. “This new product solves three of the biggest concerns our customers tend to have when adopting alternative power sources: footprint, power, and run-time. This battery delivers higher energy density in a smaller footprint, which creates more power, decreases charging times, and increases run-times.” Designed as a direct, plug-and-play replacement for conventional lead acid batteries, the new 48V LIB fits lift trucks with battery compartments of 13 inches and larger and requires no additional modifications. The new battery also provides for continuous data exchange between Raymond® lift trucks and chargers, giving customers easy access to critical operating metrics — and to the Raymond portfolio of telematics and intralogistics solutions. “Our chargers, LIBs, and telematics packages all work together to optimize performance and data acquisition,” Hosmer said. “Used in conjunction with Raymond’s Power Source Integration and iWAREHOUSE platform, this new battery gives users access to a more holistic view of their operation, allowing for better decision-making, boosting battery life span, improving operational efficiency, and increasing productivity.” The new 48V LIB is suitable for a variety of environments and is designed to deliver a strong business case for alternative energy adoption, including: Increased productivity from convenient opportunity charging, longer run-times, and faster charging Reduced maintenance thanks to the completely sealed battery design, which eliminates the maintenance requirements of traditional lead acid batteries The lowest total cost of ownership with the longest cycle life in the industry Reduced energy and operating costs due to the decreased need for spare batteries or lift trucks Easy installation and implementation thanks to a drop-in design that’s compatible with the entire Raymond fleet of new or existing electric lift trucks Enhanced peace of mind from the UL® 2580 listing and a six-year or 5,000-cycle warranty “As the lithium-ion battery market develops, customers will have many options to choose from,” Hosmer said. “But Raymond offers an integrated solution no one else can. Every component works in tandem to maximize the positive effects of lithium-ion technology on your business. More uptime, greater productivity, and lower total cost of ownership — everything you need from your LIB solution, end-to-endless — all from Raymond. And when you’re ready, our LIBs are fully recyclable at the end of the battery’s life. Raymond will even help customers take care of the final disposal of any LIB purchased from us.”