Florida’s Natural Pro AM

Congratulation to the Florida Lift Team that participated in the Florida’s Natural Pro AM golf tournament fundraiser who placed 1st. Also congratulations to Jenny Gleason, who placed 6th overall in the tournament of 250, competing for a spot on the LPGA. The annual event averages $50,000 benefiting Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation.

 

Pictured left to right: Charles Matlock, Michael Weathers, Jenny Gleason, Mike Parker, Ed from Florida’s Natural.

Toyota Industries Corporation

KARIYA, Aichi, Japan — (March 22, 2010) —

Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) today announced it is formalizing the management and operations structure of Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) to further strengthen the Toyota and Raymond brands in North America. This restructuring originating from a long-term growth plan launched in 2005 allows all TMHNA organizations to better collaborate on business efficiencies and share resources resulting in continually improving levels of quality, service and support. TMHNA is comprised of Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), the Columbus, Ind.-based lift truck manufacturing plant; Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU), North America’s number one supplier of lift trucks; and The Raymond Corporation, the North American market leader in electric warehouse trucks. TMHNA will be headquartered at Toyota’s TIEM facilities in Columbus, Ind. The new management and operations structure will strengthen North American regional coordination, while continuing to grow the existing brands and maintaining distribution channels for Toyota and Raymond.

“Today we are further evolving TMHNA’s capabilities to better leverage the knowledge and expertise  throughout our North American companies,” said Tatsuo Matsuura, chairman of the Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG). “This step will ensure that Toyota and Raymond customers continue to receive the best products and service in the industry.”

 

 

TICO formed the TMHG to better leverage the Toyota, BT and Raymond brands and operations worldwide. TMHNA was formed by TMHG as a framework to support the North American market. Management Appointments As part of the reorganization, key management positions have been appointed, effective April 1, 2010:

• Kazue Sasaki will be appointed chairman of TMHNA and will continue to serve as president of TIEM and Toyota Industries North America, Inc. (TINA). He also will serve on the board for TMHU. Sasaki brings more than 20 years of management and engineering experience, most recently serving as a senior managing officer of TICO.
• James Malvaso will be appointed president and chief executive officer of TMHNA, and thus will resign as the president and chief executive officer of Raymond. He has been president/CEO/chairman of Raymond for 13 years and has more than 35 years of operations, sales & marketing experience. Malvaso, a recognized leader in the materials handling industry, is a former president of the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) and a current member of ITA’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
• Charles Pascarelli will be appointed president of the Raymond Sales division of The Raymond Corporation, which includes sales, marketing, distribution development and aftermarket services. He has more than 25 years of proven success in leading companies to sales and marketing excellence. Pascarelli has been with Raymond since 2007 and has served as executive vice president of sales and marketing at Raymond since 2009.
• Michael Field will be appointed president of the Raymond Operations division of The Raymond Corporation, which includes manufacturing, quality assurance, engineering and procurement. Field has over 20 years of experience managing engineering and operations groups at industrial companies. Field has been with Raymond since 2004 and has served as executive vice president of operations at Raymond since January 2009.
• Brett Wood will continue to serve as president for TMHU. A TMHU associate since 1989, Wood formerly served as the company’s vice president of marketing, product and strategic planning and training operations and previously oversaw dealer development. Wood is a member of ITA’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
• Ed Rompala will serve as chief financial officer for TMHNA and will remain as chief financial officer for The Raymond Corporation. Rompala has served as Raymond’s CFO since 1998.
• Hitoshi Matsuoka is appointed TMHNA Executive Coordinator, and will remain as Executive Vice President/Treasurer for TMHU.
• Kazuhiro Kurosaka is appointed TMHNA Coordinator, in addition to serving as Finance & Planning Coordinator for TIEM.

“Dead Reckoning”

At the most recent 'Focus Meeting' in Winter Haven branch, Branch Operations Manager Mike Weathers stands by the 'Dead Reckoning' list of recently acquired 'Conquered Accounts' that the Dead Reckoning process helped us break into or significantly increase our sales to, ultimately better serving the customer.

Some really great work has been done by everyone at the Winter Haven branch with Special
Acknowledgement to Dave Noll and Tyrone Miller for some outstanding effort in capturing 'New Business'

Great Work you guys!

 

-Jeff Fischer

Dear Team Toyota,
The recent events and growing media coverage surrounding Toyota Motor Corporation’s motor vehicle accelerator pedal issue have led to questions about whether this issue faced by Toyota’s automotive division affects the industrial equipment division of Toyota.

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you, our highly respected dealers, and our valued customers that this design issue in no way affects any industrial products distributed by Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU). All Toyota industrial lift trucks, tow tractors and aerial work platforms (branded as Aichi) fall under the responsibility of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), which utilizes completely different engineers, manufacturing facilities and suppliers.

Should your industrial equipment customers have additional concerns after reviewing this information, please feel free to contact TMHU’s Product Support department at
(949) 223-7755 or ProductSupport@tmhu.com.

 
Sincerely,
Brett Wood

TOYOTA JOINS THE LEAN FACTORY GROUP

Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU) today announced it will participate with The Lean Factory Group, an association of America’s leading lean manufacturing product and service providers, to showcase its Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) technologies at the Automation Technology Expo, ATX West. The event will take place Feb. 9-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Anaheim, Calif., and TMHU will be in booth no. 4175.

The Lean Factory Group featuring Toyota, Bosch Rexroth, Orgatex, Leonardo Group Americas and Automation Controls will offer workshops designed to educate show visitors on lean manufacturing techniques and technologies, including the use of fully automated industrial equipment. The group also will highlight available AGV options with the ultimate goal of creating a lean production environment.

By integrating AGVs to help automate a warehouse or manufacturing facility, companies can reduce operating costs and increase overall efficiency, said Martin Boyd, national product planning and marketing manager for TMHU. At ATX West, Toyota and the Lean Factory Group will provide workshop participants with an interactive look at AGV products and services available to assist in achieving a lean, streamlined production environment.

Toyota’s AGVs will be one highlight, along with workstations and flow-racks, floor markings and protective tape for AGV paths, PLCs and sensors. The expo will include educational sessions that demonstrate the importance of a data-driven approach to line design; the need to create an environment that supports lean production with the right equipment and infrastructure; and the tools to create a Visual Factory. Participants will witness the step-by-step creation of an optimized lean production environment, culminating in an actual build demonstration on an optimum lean line.

Good Morning All,

Attached is an article about Komatsu's decision to discontinue the Tusk brand. Many of your customers are intrigued about our industry. Share with them our story… In one of our countries worst economic depressions, our Brand was ranked #1 for the seventh straight year and our team was able to gain market share in the down economy.

Think about the changes our industry has seen in the last 12 months:
- Hyster acquired assets of Yale
- Jungheinrich partnering with Caterpillar
- Nissan
- Clark
- Tusk
Many more changes….

Our customers need safety, reliability, and efficiency from a forklift, all needs that Toyota provides. What they don’t need is to have to worry about the reliability of their forklift/service provider. Now more than ever, customers have a greater appreciation and desire to do business with a company that is stable; the industry leader. In today’s economic environment, it’s almost a risk not to do business with Toyota!!!


Thanks,

Travis Cochrane