A special feature on lift trucks is among the month’s highlights
September 1st 2011 We have a lift trucks, attachments & ancillaries special this month with a huge amount of information on new products, technologies, approaches and case studies. There is a wealth of choice out there and it’s a case for horses for courses. The needs of a large corporate running a huge and very busy distribution centre will be different from those of a small business with its own modest warehousing facilities. We hope that you will find a solution for your needs within these pages, whatever the problem you face.
We’ve spotted a few trends.We’re seeing a number of suppliers placing great emphasis on local service and engineers that engage with customers on a face-to-face basis.We’re also seeing Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese lift truck brands gaining momentum in the market, which perhaps suggests that reservations concerning trucks from these countries could be eroding.We also carry a story on Sainsbury’s taking on trial lithium-ion based materials handling equipment from Toyota on page 6. This marks part of another trend, with larger lift truck manufacturers innovating rapidly to increase productivity for larger, busier logistics operations.
It could be you!
Also take a look at the FLTA’s newly launched Safe Site Award, which will be a key category in its well regarded lift truck industry awards. This category is open to any UK site, as long as it has taken steps to make the operation of fork lift trucks safer. This is a great opportunity to grab some limelight so why not have a go. The entry process is straightforward and judges will look at the effort and imagination used and not focus on the size of the site. For more details see page 30.
Most of the FLTA Awards categories are geared towards suppliers, who must prove innovation and excellence to win an Archie. For this reason, it’s well worth keeping an eye on developments to see who picks up awards and nominations, as these lists are sure to contain many of the better products on the market.
Girl power
It’s also interesting to note that this issue has a slightly more feminine touch than usual, although everything is relative. The number of female voices in the industry is still fairly low.We’re pleased to have articles from two leading lights of logistics in this issue’s Supply Chain supplement. The current MAN Everywoman Director of the Year Jane Gorick outlines the remarkable success story La Pallette Rouge has proved to be in the UK.We also have Hilary Devey, fresh from her debut on the Dragon’s Den.
Add to this the fact that the three finalists for the Young Manager of the Year category at The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s Annual Awards for Excellence are women, and maybe we are starting to see something of a change. Good luck to the women who are up for awards.
Simon Duddy, Editor More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
