In the past year, the situation of material handling has been mixed, and the demand for equipment has soared, but the supply chain is under great pressure. Allan Leibowitz summarized this year's highs and lows.
2021 is a year of ups and downs
A common theme in the financial reports of major manufacturers is demand growth - which is almost all-round growth.
Tim Waples, chief executive of the British material handling Association, confirmed this trend, What is stressed is why it was such a strong year for the UK materials handling industry in 2021: "as companies seek to recover rapidly from a series of blockade triggered by COVID-19, confidence is growing, which helps to produce unprecedented demand for new forklift in almost all sectors of the UK."
He added that keeping up with such a large number of orders poses great challenges, and demand is expected to remain strong by 2022, and the material handling industry may be challenged by pressure again.
He observed that the biggest challenge was the continued shortage of key components, which prevented manufacturers from meeting strong demand. "Dealers also have to lower their expectations for delivery when accepting orders for new machines.
"Due to the limited supply of new machines, end users have been trying to find high-quality second-hand equipment, so that it is in short supply.
Although this is not a unique challenge for the material handling industry, it is still frustrating, "he explained.
Across the Atlantic, John Paxton, CEO of MHI, a major U.S. industrial group, described 2021 as a year of interruption and shortage.
"The uniqueness of this COVID-19 is that it greatly affects supply and demand. During the pandemic, millions of people stay at home, and the demand has changed dramatically, first down and then rapidly rising. The timely supply chain is unable to meet this growing demand, especially in the face of COVID-19 related factory closures, shortage of materials and continuous shortage of workers. In the case of.
"Nearly two years after COVID-19, many manufacturers are still not operating on COVID-19's capacity, for example, the shortage of semiconductor chips has led to serious shortages of these chips, including consumer electronics, automobiles and electrical appliances, and some toys."
As long as shortages persist, Paxton predicts higher prices, inflation and fewer products available.
However, he stressed that even in this interruption, material handling equipment manufacturers had a record year in 2021, and new orders and shipments in most equipment categories were very strong. "Companies are continuing to invest in equipment for their facilities to help them cope with growing demand," he said.
Similarly, Liz Richards, CEO of MHEDA, highlighted the supply challenges.
"Difficult access to products due to supply chain disruptions and other factors has been a major cause of frustration."
She pointed out that the rental fleet and inventory of second-hand equipment have been exhausted, and the delivery time of new equipment will continue until 2022. This also poses challenges in trying to meet customer needs.
Another challenge is inflation, so MHEDA members have to closely monitor and adjust their pricing strategies.
Another obstacle, Richards added, is the availability of talent. "Talent challenges include replacing employees who are about to retire, entering new employees in this boom period, training, retaining and coping with wage pressures in all wage areas. Most MHEDA members are trying to recruit positions comprehensively, not just skilled labor, which was the main shortage in previous years. LinkedIn is full of recruitment information looking for new employees.
"Many companies are trying to balance the needs of employees in remote, home-based or mixed environments. It is often difficult to provide the flexibility employees seek while maintaining a healthy corporate culture. Improving the culture is a major concern for most of our members because it includes recruiting and retaining good employees."
According to UK peak body logistics, there is reason to be cautiously optimistic about the skills shortage in the UK.
The recent UK logistics skills report 2021 shows that important measures have been taken to help solve the recruitment problem that has plagued the industry for many years. The government and the industry work together to improve the ability to test new operators, provide new training programs, and strive to improve the facilities available to staff on the road network. However, as Elizabeth de Jong, policy director of British logistics company, explained, although progress has been made, there is still much work to be done.
"The government needs to continue to focus on ensuring (improved) delivery so that businesses and industries can take full advantage of and continue to raise awareness of logistics and the opportunities it provides," she said
AITT: training is essential
The association of industrial forklift trainers (AITT) noted the interruption of training activities affecting the UK talent pool.
Adam Smith, managing director of AITT, explained that many training courses had to be cancelled or postponed last year, and the social distance requirement means that those courses that do continue must be attended by fewer representatives.
"This situation continues until early 2021. As more and more companies begin to resume normal services throughout the year, the new demand for operator training has led to a slight backlog in the availability of recognized training providers," he said, adding that the waiting time for training courses has become longer than usual because many instructors are busy catching up.
"However, anyone using workplace transport equipment must have the skills and abilities required for safe work, which is why we urge enterprises to give priority to novice training and consider delaying refresher training for several months. This proposal is supported by HSE. It is important that employers continue to use only certified training providers so as not to affect the training they receive Training quality. "
On the positive side, Smith pointed out that the backlog has decreased over time, and he believes that the training department is returning to normal service.
Ross Moloney, CEO of the association of lifting equipment engineers (LeeA), said that covid and its related continuous restrictions are undoubtedly the world's largest trend in the past 12 months for the crane industry. "UK members have also been fighting brexit. They need the support of LeeA to explain how the relevant standards have changed and adjusted," he said. "The association's technical team has made great efforts to ensure that they are visible and accessible to members and look at these issues from the perspective of LeeA and the UK."
From a broader perspective, moloni said that policymakers around the world need to recognize and support the role of improving health and safety in many key industries and at work. "We want to remind end users how important it is to use high-quality suppliers. They use experience and high-quality training and often develop innovative solutions," he said.
Zhang Jie, Secretary General of the industrial vehicle branch of China Construction Machinery Industry Association, said when talking about the future development of the industry: China has strong production advantages and market advantages with the strongest demand. The main development tasks of the industry in the next stage will focus on the main business and hone its internal skills. Relevant enterprises need to strengthen innovation, make up for weaknesses, build a safe, reliable, stable and advanced industrial chain and supply chain, enhance their competitive advantage, focus on electrification, intelligence and networking, use modern technology to meet the changes of market demand, participate in the overall solution of customer logistics through independent innovation or resource integration, and broaden the product line and service range, Ensure the sustainable development of enterprises and create more value for social development and enterprises themselves.
milepost
Linde material handling has two important milestones in 2021. In April, Linde completed its 1000000 counterweight forklift on its ashafinburg assembly line, and then showed the vehicle to the customer colorobia Espa ? a. Coincidentally, the Spanish client celebrated its centenary in 2021.
Linde employees celebrate production milestones
Linde has been producing balance weight forklifts at its ashafinburg production base since 1959.
The company also celebrated its 50th anniversary of turning to electric forklifts in May and pointed out that the production line made its debut at the industrial trade exhibition in Hanover in March 1971.
Stefan Prokosch, senior vice president of Linde brand management, said: "looking back, this is a decision to set the direction for the future." today, we not only provide customers with a large portfolio of Electric Industrial forklifts with various energy storage systems, but also use our expertise to electrify various vehicles - from hackney carriage to trolley bus. "
Toyota material handling (TMH) achieved a manufacturing milestone by producing its 750000 forklift at its plant in Columbus, Indiana, in June. The 750000 forklift is an electric vehicle launched by TMH last year, and it is also the first vehicle completely designed and developed by TMH's engineering team in Columbus.
Kalmar completed its 75000 Ottawa wharf tractor at the beginning of the year and delivered a landmark forklift to Lazer spot yard management, a long-term customer. The manufacturer also produced the 3000th Kalmar front crane in China in July. The goal of the machine is to complete the long-term customer Ningbo Meidong Container Terminal Co., Ltd. at Kalma's manufacturing factory near the port in Shanghai. Employees and guests gathered at the factory to celebrate this achievement.
In July, Liebherr Rostock transported its 1300 offshore crane from Rostock, Germany to Ghana. Since production began in 2005, Liebherr mcctec Rostock GmbH has manufactured and delivered offshore cranes to more than 100 countries on all continents. The landmark crane LHM 550, one of two Liebherr mobile port cranes, will begin a 5500 km journey to Ghana, where they will serve Tema port in West Africa.
In July, the Irish manufacturer combilift produced the 60000th combi-cb3000, which was shipped to a factory in tuumba, Australia.
Yale celebrated 40 years of manufacturing in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, in November. Since the factory opened in April 1981, thousands of forklifts have been produced and exported to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In November, Kony delivered the 10000th forklift flow drive frontal crane to absolut vodka in Aarhus, Schoen Province, southern Sweden. The 10000th forklift is Konecranes SMV 4632 TC5 front crane, which is a sturdy 46 t machine that can stack up to five containers high.
In December, the 750000 engine went offline in JCB power system in Derbyshire, which began production in 2004.
merger
The cartec Konecranes alliance, one of the biggest mergers in the industry that made headlines this year, has encountered some serious obstacles.
Just this month, the UK competition and Markets Authority (CMA) expressed concern about "a significant reduction in competition for the supply of a range of container handling equipment products".
Kalma electric forklift
The merging partners responded that they did not agree with the interim conclusions of CMA and noted that they were discussing with other relevant competition authorities (including the European Commission and the US Department of Justice) and were considering how to alleviate some of the concerns raised by different agencies.
The transaction was also attacked in Australia. The Australian Competition regulator expressed concern and called on relevant parties to submit opinions, and a final decision will be made in February 2022.
In order to address the concerns of competition authorities, the two companies put forward a compromise proposal at the end of the year - to spin off Kony forklift business and Cargotec Kalma automation solution. According to a joint statement, the proposed divestiture will eliminate the overlap between the two sides' container handling equipment business, but allow the merged company to merge with other companies and continue to play a strong role in all aspects of container handling equipment.
At the same time, Cargotec sold its Navis business to accel KKR, an American technology investment company, for an enterprise value of 380 million euros ($450 million). Cargotec's Hiab subsidiary subsequently acquired galfab, an American manufacturer of removable equipment, which produces roll on and roll off cranes and related equipment for the domestic waste industry.
In March, Mitsubishi logisnext, headquartered in Japan, acquired 100% ownership of Mitsubishi logisnext America. Mitsubishi caterpillar forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a subsidiary, acquired MCFA shares held by caterpillar industrial Inc., a subsidiary of its minority shareholder caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. and Mitsubishi logisnext Americas continue to maintain a long-term strategic partnership to jointly provide customers with new products and solutions. Mitsubishi logisnext group will continue to use the cat forklift brand worldwide.
Similarly, Hyundai Heavy Industry Group established the intermediate holding company Hyundai genuine in November after acquiring Doosan Infracore in August. Doosan construction machinery has been renamed modern - Doosan construction machinery.
Modern construction equipment and modern Doosan construction machinery will continue to operate under their respective management systems and compete in the global equipment market as sister companies. Hyundai genuine will support the two enterprises and maximize the synergy between them.
Belgian parts giant TVH often appeared in the acquisition of Forklift News and made headlines in March due to ownership restructuring.
The vanhalst family completely controlled mateco's machinery division, which previously held a 50% stake, while the thermote family controlled the TVH parts division with a 60% stake. Both families retained their interests in TVH equipment NV, mateco's Belgian branch, which "started 50 years ago". The foundation of global society and economy.
In July, TVH sold 40% of the shares previously held by the vanhalst family to d'ietren group, a listed company, including d'ietren automotive, Bellon (Carglass), Moleskine and d'ietren immo.
The ownership restructuring did not stop the acquisition efforts. TVH parts holding acquired van gent forkliftparts, a Dutch parts dealer. TVH also acquired the shares of battery supplies in deerlijk, Belgium and its subsidiaries in meyzieu (battery supplies France) and erftstadt (battec batterie vertrieb) in Germany.
Among other acquisitions, palfinger took over tskkranundwechselsysteme, which produces various dump trucks, crane and platform bodies and other special vehicle parts, and has worked with palfinger for more than 20 years. At the beginning of the year, palfinger acquired its Iberian dealer equipdraulic in Barcelona. This acquisition strengthens palfinger IBERICA's position in the Spanish market, especially in Catalonia, a powerful industrial zone.
In another dealer acquisition, hubtex acquired a 50% stake in its North American dealer design storage & handling (DSH).
In October, accessory manufacturer cascade Corporation, as a wholly-owned subsidiary, successfully acquired lift technologies, Inc. (USA) and lift Tek Elecar Spa (Italy) from Calvi holding spa.
Forkway group joins Briggs network
In the UK, Briggs equipment had a busy year and completed the acquisition of JB plant hire, one of the leading factory leasing companies in Northern Ireland. Earlier Irish acquisitions gave Briggs control of Laois hire in Portlaoise and balloo hire Ltd in Dublin. In December, Briggs equipment completed the acquisition of forkway group, a material handling dealer. The company has been a sub distributor of Briggs for 10 years and has three UK sites in Amersham, dewsbury and Southampton.
Among the biggest changes in the auction market, lees brothers acquired the euro auctions group for an enterprise value of 775 million pounds ($1.08 billion).
As the battery market heats up, fuel cell expert Ballard Power Systems has acquired the UK based system engineering company Arcola energy, which specializes in hydrogen fuel cell powertrain and vehicle system integration. Meanwhile, concentric acquired all battery sales and service, a leader in forklift DC power supply and automotive and special power products. The acquisition will expand concentric's business to the northwest of the United States, including Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
In addition, exponential power, a leading supplier of storage power solutions, announced a strategic acquisition of static power in Maryland. Static, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, extends the services of exponential power to the mid Atlantic corridor and supports its mission of providing reliability and advanced technology.
In November, Pyroban acquired one of its partners, Euro access, a professional platform manufacturer based in cork, Ireland. Euro access manufactures ground support equipment specifically for the maintenance of military aircraft. Pyroban participated in the original design process and certification of the equipment in the 1990s with Paul McHugh and Michael Buckley, founders of Euro access.
Dealer development
Many changes have taken place in dealers in 2021, especially in the United States. This has been a particularly busy year for Clark material handling, starting with the appointment of Duke equipment, a subsidiary of Ogden forklift, as an authorized distributor of Clark products in Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida.
This was followed by the appointment of reliable forklift sales as the authorized distributor of Clark products in Arizona in June and conger industries in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan in August.
Clark Europe also expanded its market share in Benelux by appointing europieces Luxembourg SA as its new sales partner.
Wolter group renamed the company and its eight sub brands Wolter, an industrial solutions provider focused on improving productivity for customers.
Goshen node of advantage materials handling
In November, Wolter acquired the advantage materials handling group in South Bend and Goshen, Indiana. This marks Wolter's 12th acquisition in more than 10 years and the 16th location of the company.
In November, shoppa's material handling department added dematec equipment to its product line in North America. A few months ago, shoppa's opened a new store in Amarillo, Texas.
In April, Toyota material handling North America (tmhna) and its dealer networks of two major group companies - Toyota material handling and Raymond - launched a dual brand, single channel distribution pilot program to meet the changing needs of customers.
Kaiao's North American dealer HTx material handling has opened a new location in HTx material handling Dallas, Texas. This has enhanced HTx's business in Houston and surrounding areas. At the same time, Carson material handling, a Kaiao dealer, added two locations in Charlotte and Morrisville (Raleigh Durham area), North Carolina, to better serve its customers. In another dealer expansion, lift parts service, LLC added an additional location to better provide Linde and poly products to customers in gaden City, Kansas.
Equipment Depot acquired capital equipment and processing (CEH) and its four locations in Wisconsin earlier this year. Equipment depot was later appointed as the distributor of cat forklift, Mitsubishi forklift and yonghengli brands in Wisconsin and Northern Michigan, enabling the chain to represent these brands in 23 states and more than 50 locations.
In January, tri lift acquired vantage equipment's material handling group, cat lift trucks and yonghengli forklift dealers, covering 18 counties in central New York. The acquisition extends tri lift's cat and yonghengli's services from Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont and Eastern New York, from Long Island and New York City in the south to the Canadian border in the north.
In one of the largest dealer restructuring in Europe, with logisnext France integrating its unicarriers business with the business of Mitsubishi forklift trucks France, a subsidiary in Lyon, the unicarriers brand began to "gradually disappear" from France. This is part of the merger of European companies Mitsubishi caterpillar forklift Europe (mcfe) and unicarriers Europe (UCE) into Mitsubishi logisnext Europe in April 2020. Later, Berner oy sold Berner's machinery business to logisnext Finland, thereby transferring Mitsubishi forklift, combilift and DULEVO sweeper brands to logisnext Finland.
In July, brubakken as in Norway and brubakken AB in Sweden were designated as distributors of Hester equipment, while Medley material handling company acquired all Hester assets from Briggs equipment Arkansas. Medley took over all previously served Briggs area operations, including Little Rock and Springdale.
In September, Yale European material handling company appointed a new dealer Banz Trading & Contracting wll in the kingdom of Bahrain, thus expanding its footprint in the Middle East.
In 2021, Chinese brands increased their dealer footprint in the United States, and BYD increased
Forklift systems, big river Equipment Inc and lifttruck parts and Service Inc joined their networks, while adding Ogden forklifts to expand their business in the southeastern United States.
Liugong continued to promote its dealers in North America and added industrial maintenance service company as its forklift dealer in Wisconsin.
In the development of Canada, Baumann appointed macfarlands industrial as its distributor in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Nearby, Leavitt machinery from Surrey, British Columbia, acquired a provincial forklift serving the Kitchener area.
Industry loss
This year began with the departure of an "industry legend". Chuck Leone, executive vice president and chief operating officer of modern construction equipment America, died of covid-19 complications.
Chuck Leon
Lionel's career spans more than 50 years. He began with Clark's national customer sales, and then served as the branch manager of Yale factory and store, making greater achievements and responsibilities. Before coming to Hyundai, he served as the vice president of sales and marketing of Nissan forklift, followed by the vice president of sales of GNB battery and yonghengli, where he developed the distribution network and overall business of Hyundai forklift in North America.
His career achievements reflect his love and respect for his family, employees, dealers and customers. His motto is "always do the right thing, in the long run, you will win". He applied it to business and proved successful throughout his career. His hard work and dedication won him the 2019 Hyundai global employee of the year award, which he was very honored to receive.
In July, the association of lifting equipment engineers (LeeA) expressed grief over the loss of "a dear colleague and friend" Craig Morelli, who died after a brief illness.
Morelli joined LeeA as a training officer in 2011, which directly benefited from his successful career in the British army for 24 years. His last position is the compliance and quality manager of LeeA, responsible for supervising the association's recognized training program and training operation.
Another important industry leader lost in 2021 is Professor Daryll hull, a researcher at the Chartered logistics and Transport Association (CILT), the Australian Association of corporate directors (AICD) and the global labour organization (glo)
Hull has a brilliant career for 40 years and has had a practical impact on all fields of industry, business, government and academia. Through his commitment and dedication, he has impressed many people and will use his intelligence, generosity and firm faith in the form and significance of decent work, cooperative management and common ownership as the foundation of a new global society and economy.
