The Forklift Finder

Ok, we all know the scene:

You have your favourite parking space at work, you park there every day, you look after it, keep it clean, maybe even pluck out any weeds that may have somehow broken through the tarmac…… well, maybe!

Then, one day, you pull into the car park and someone has parked their car in YOUR spot, not only that this thing is a wreck, you try to compose yourself and convince yourself to park somewhere else but, whats this, OIL dripping out of the car onto your sacred parking spot!

So you march into the office and inform the ignorant cretin who has parked in your spot that it better not be there tomorrow.

Low and behold, you arrive for work the next day and there it is again. Staring you in the face, mocking you with it’s oil dripping all over the place.

You find the first sane person you can and inform them:

he better come and move it or i’ll move it for him!

Obviously the owner of the car thought these were hollow words, either that or he didn’t realise your were a Forklift Driver!

You go straight over to your forklift, drive over to the offending car and lift. Move it out of your beloved parking spot and drop it in the middle of the car park!

Job done and you can get on with the rest of your day, except now you are wanted on charges of second-degree criminal damage to property and on the run from the law!

Oh well, some things are worth fighting for!

A bit of a dramatisation obviously but as the story below shows, some people really are protective over their parking spots!

Police hunt man after car moved with forklift

Police are looking for an Augusta man who used a forklift to move his co-worker’s car Tuesday.

David Johnson, of the 2000 block of Country Place Drive, told a witness that the victim had taken his parking spot and that “he better come and move it” or that he would “move it for him,” according to a Richmond County sheriff’s report.

The witness told police that Mr. Johnson lifted the vehicle, which was parked at Southeastern Equipment Co. on Mike Padgett Highway, off the ground twice and then let it fall.

Mr. Johnson is wanted on charges of second-degree criminal damage to property, the report said.

Abu Dhabi-based Shaw Handling wants to compete with Kalmar, Hyster and Linde in the medium to heavy forklift market and will launch a “revolutionary” forklift range in the second or third quarter of this year.

The new company’s forklift range consists of lift capacities from 5,000-18,000kg (11,023lb-39,683lb) and has Daimler-Chrysler engines and transmissions from Poclain Hydraulics.

Shaw claims the engine-powered counterbalanced forklifts “completely overturn conventional design parameters with its novel concept to provide productivity, comfort and economy”.

David O’Callaghan, Shaw’s chairman and founder, says competitors’ basic designs have not changed since Clark first designed a forklift in 1917.

“The basic design is a mast, chassis with paneled oil and fuel tanks and ballast weight. The chassis and paneled tanks have one fault – they hamper the access to the engine and transmission components. As the engine is in a high position, the centre of gravity is higher and more ballast is needed for stability.”

Shaw’s iLift forklifts are different because they are designed using modular construction and have less ballast and a lower centre of gravity. The forklifts also have a hydrostatic transmission instead of a torque converter. Linde is currently the only manufacturer producing forklifts of 10,000kg (22,046lb) and over with hydrostatic transmission.

The iLift range has a kit-form design incorporating seven units – low centre of gravity ballast weight, clear view duplex mast, driver’s cab, a power pack, rear axle, front wheel motors and a chassis.

According to O’Callaghan, the ballast weight and chassis require no maintenance or replacement. If any of the other five units is faulty, it can be temporarily replaced while the faulty unit is brought to the factory for repairs. He explains that the hydrostatic design enables a rapid and easy changeover of units, not offered by conventional manufacturers.

“Unlike conventional transmissions, the Shaw hydrostatic drive has no multiple clutch pack, no mechanical differentia, no reverse gears, no gear selection lever and none of the wear and maintenance associated with these components, and is virtually maintenance-free,” O’Callaghan claims.

The company plans to be a top five heavy materials handling equipment manufacturer in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, selling 352 units per year, in five years’ timeIt will also expand its range by adding 20,000-32,000kg (44,092-70,548lb) capacity forklifts and an empty and laden container handling forklift range. All products will be based on the modular construction platform and have hydrostatic transmission.

Shaw has a manufacturing base at Abu Dhabi’s 12 sqkm (2,965 acre) 1CAD111 industrial zone and a research and development centre in the UK.

“As heavy materials handling in the Middle East continues to expand, Abu Dhabi will emerge as a worldwide heavy materials handling hub with one of the world’s largest ports nearby in Dubai.” O’Callaghan says. Shaw can ship units globally via Taweelah Port and Jabel Ali Port in Dubai.

Shaw is currently building a new 40,000 sqm (430,556 sqft) plant and a 20,000 sqm (215,278 sqft) training academy in Abu Dhabi that will be completed at the end of 2009.

O’Callaghan says: “The main aim of the company is to become the world’s largest heavy forklift manufacturer by 2020.”

O’Callaghan adds that Shaw is talking to a top 20 forklift manufacturer on a possible joint venture but cannot comment further.

Forklift truck manufacturer Jungheinrich expects it will manage to weather a sharp drop in new orders and revenue and avoid posting a full-year loss, the second largest German forklift truck maker after Kion said on Wednesday.

“At present, demand is not anticipated to recover before the second half of 2010,” it said in a statement.

The market contraction will likely mean forklift and counterbalance truckmakers like U.S.-based Nacco and global leader Toyota Industries could also see significant business declines in a highly cyclical industry that depends largely on global trade.

With more and more people turning to refurbished and second hand forklifts in a bid to cut financial outlay it is unsurprising that the current financial climate is set to test even the biggest forklift truck manufacturers. A quick look at referral traffic to our site would show that are much more searches for used forklifts (used forklifts in Bristol for example) than there is searches for new forklifts.

One of the World’s top Forklift Truck manufacturers, Hyster, has completed its 1-9 tonne Fortens range with the introduction of the H8.0-9.0 FT series forklifts for the paper, wood, beverage, metals, ports, automotive and construction materials industries.

The 8-9 tonne forklifts share features with the H6.0-7.0 FT series including the frame construction, low-maintenance oil-immersed brakes, leak-free hydraulics and drivetrain. They have a compact design, with a wheelbase of 2,450mm.

Ergonomic traits include a full suspension seat with swivel option, adjustable seat armrest, user-friendly mini-lever controls, more floor space and an isolated operator compartment that minimises vibration.

Hyster claims the forklifts’ Tier 3-certified 82kW Cummins QSB3.3 turbo diesel engine has the lowest CO and particulate emissions levels in the 8-9 tonne forklift segment.

This series wraps up the induction program for the entire 1-9 tonne Fortens diesel/LPG truck range, which started in 2005. [It] allows us to compete strongly in the 8-9 tonne segment

says Han Seijger, managing director for Hyster Europe, Middle East & Africa.