Tilt and Bulk Trucks Offer Solution to Trash and Other Potentially Messy Problems

If you want to improve your trash or product handling at your business or workplace, you should consider utilizing a tilt or bulk truck. These are two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles that are big enough to handle bulk materials, refuse, recyclables or whatever it is you need to move from place to place. Clean, Safe and Efficient Removing … Read more

Forklift and Crane Used to Transport Obese Man to Hospital

Workers in Saudi Arabia used a forklift to transport a man weighing more than 1,000 lbs. to a local hospital for treatment, according to news reports. Khaled Mohsin Shaeri, who authorities said weighed 610 kg — or  1,345 lbs. — was transported from his hometown of Jizan to the Saudi capital city of Riyadh via a special-equipped military airplane and then off-loaded using a forklift, which then brought him to a hospital.

Because of his enormous weight, Shaeri, 20, had been unable to leave his bedroom for the past two and a half years, but thanks to Saudi King Abdullah, who personally financed the transport operation, he was able to get medical care for his condition. A cousin told Reuters that Shaeri had contracted an unspecified disease when he was a child that caused him to rapidly put on weight, and he soon became bedridden.

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Toyota Named Green Supply Chain Partner By Trade Publication

Toyota Materials Handling USA Inc. has been named to Inbound Logistics’ list of Green Supply Chain Partners for 2013, according to a company news release. It was the fifth consecutive year that the manufacturer of materials handling equipment has been named to the list. The company – based in Irvine, California — was recognized for its … Read more

Rough Terrain Stacker, Once Reserved for Military, Now Available to Public

military grade heavy equiipment
RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stacker

Kalmar RT, a manufacturer of rough terrain lift stacker trucks that have been reserved exclusively for the United States military, announced that it now is offering some its vehicles to civilians as well.

The Kalmar RT240 is designed to be operated under practically any terrain conditions, including grades of up to 27 percent. It has the capability to stack 20- and 40-foot containers and can work in unimproved ground conditions, including marshy terrain, and any type of environment. The versatility of its applications is enhanced by available fork and sling lift attachments.

Four Purchased for Oil Field Project

Four of the vehicles already have been sold to Toll Group, an Asian integrated logistic services provider, and will be used on the Gorgon Project, a remote natural gas project in Australia’s Gorgon gas fields, considered to be one of the biggest in the world. The vehicle was selected because of its capacity and  efficiency and will be used both at the dock and at the construction site. Previous vehicles proved ineffective and the project fell behind schedule.

So far, Toll Group is the first to buy the vehicles, but Kalmar RT, based in Cibolo, Texas, is poised to market the rough terrain reach stackers to customers who are looking for equipment that already has been quite literally battle-tested.

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Walmart Hosts US Manufacturing Summit

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, hosted a conference for more than 1,500 manufacturing and government officials last Thursday at its US Manufacturing Summit. The event, which was held at the Orlando Convention Center, was co-sponsored by the  National Retail Federation. Scheduled participants included Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Walmart CEO Mike Duke, GE chairman Jeff Immelt and the governors of eight states. Walmart’s … Read more

Souped-Up Power Jack Provides Solutions for Company’s Unique Problems

MHI, a manufacturer of power jacks and other materials handling equipment, recently created a customized power pallet jack that addressed problems one of its clients was having, according to a company news release. Trans-Ocean, a leading supplier of seafood products to the food industry, needed a pallet jack that was faster yet ergonomically safer than … Read more

Retail Sales Up Again in July, Fed Says

Retail sales in the United States increased 0.5% during July compared to June, according to statistics released by the US Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation. It was the fourth consecutive month that retail sales went up, providing a sign of economic improvement. July’s retail sales of $424.5 billion were 4.0% higher than … Read more

Operator of the Year Contest Promotes Workplace Safety

A contest that recognizes safe and productive workplace practices has resulted in fewer accidents and an overall improvement in workplace safety, according to the contest’s sponsor, Toyota Material Handling UK. Since 2008, the company has been motivating employers and training organizations to improve the safety and efficiency of the workplace by sponsoring the RTITB Operator … Read more

Want to Cut Electricity Costs? Mitsubishi May Be Able to Help

Mitsubishi Electric Automation announced this week that it is teaming up with Powerit Solutions to help manufacturing businesses identify ways to reduce their electricity costs and achieve corporate sustainability goals. With energy costs rising, practically every materials handling and manufacturing company is looking for was to reduce their electrical usage. The two companies plan to … Read more