First

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 10/1/2000

Clark to focus only on forklifts

Lift trucks-not dock equipment, lift tables, and other ergonomic equipment-is the business that Clark Material Handling, now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, wants to be in. That's according to chairman and CEO Martin Dorio.

As a result, the Lexington, Ky.-based firm intends to sell its Canadian subsidiary, Blue Giant Ltd., to TBM Holdings (Houston, Texas) along with certain assets of its subsidiary, Blue Giant Corp. (Pell City, Ala.). The deal is valued at $11 million, Clark says.

Blue Giant Ltd. is not a debtor in Clark's bankruptcy proceeding but the sale of Blue Giant Corp. assets (which includes distribution of wheeled product worldwide) will require approval by the bankruptcy court and by Blue Giant's lender. TBM products include equipment sold under the Presto and Rol-Lift brands.
For more information, visit www.clarkmhc.com .

Buyers of industrial supplies to triple Internet use

Buyers (manufacturing end customers) in the $1 trillion industrial supplies industry (electrical supplies, pipes, hand and power tools, etc.) are likely to triple their use of the Internet in one year-with all buyers going online by 2004-when they look to procure goods.

According to an online survey by Harris Interactive, only one-third of buyers currently purchasing industrial supplies (36%) use the Internet to help them conduct business transactions. Within the next 5 years, however, these same buyers forecast that they will use the Web for 80% of their purchases.
For more information, visit www.industrialamerica.com .

Manufacturers reveal three areas of concern

North American mid-sized manufacturers say workflow flexibility, limited e- commerce capabilities, and an inability to deal with multi-currency are challenges.

Sixty percent of 200 manufacturers surveyed by Vector Concepts, say improving productivity on the plant floor was the most important issue facing them. Only 15% of those in this group said they have systems that can customize workflow processes for special orders.

Thirty-five percent have begun integrating their services on the Web. Approximately 28% of the respondents are using the Web to either buy or sell products but few are doing both.

Twenty-seven percent are doing business internationally-mostly in Europe-with the market growing at a rate of 22% annually. Yet, well over 75% do not have financial systems that can handle the most current triangulation formulas for the Euro dollar.

For more information, visit www.vectorconcepts.com .

New lift truck communications standard approved

Late last month, U.S. lift truck suppliers recommended the use of communications protocol that will simplify the exchange of information between various devices on electric vehicles.

Based upon an international protocol known as CAN (Controller Area Networks), it will allow real-time communication between a lift truck's electronic control devices made by various manufacturers. Until now, propietary CAN systems have been used, requiring that all devices be from the same manufacturer.

Brain Lamb of Sevcon, who chaired the task force that developed the Industrial Truck Association Recommended Practice, expects some lift truck manufacturers will begin to use the new standard protocol in the next 12-24 months.