Positive progression - by Sir Neville Bowman-Shaw
May 18th 2006

The future of the lift truck industry is developing fast in the global market and China will be playing a major part by producing popular ranges of trucks at competitive prices reminiscent of the Japanese after the Second World War, writes Sir Neville Bowman-Shaw, MD of Samuk Lift Trucks. The difference being, it took Japan 30 years to overcome suspicion of Asian products in the global market but will take China only 7 years to establish leading brands. Already they have put a man into space and built the MAGLEV - the magnetically levitated train achieving 400km per hour or more. If you have any reservations regarding leading Chinese products, then plan a visit to industrial Shanghai which will certainly change one’s perspective - as it did for the Samuk Dealers whom recently returned from a Samuk China visit.

In April 2006, Samuk staff and dealers visited Hangcha - the Chinese manufacturers of the Samuk product line. The objective was to allow staff and dealers to evaluate for themselves, the benefits of a large manufacturer like Hangcha… after all, seeing is believing! The minute the team stepped onboard the Maglev at Shanghai, any mental pictures of paddy fields and rickshaws were soon replaced with the reality of urban skylines and technological innovation.

One of the exceptional effects of the visit was that dealers saw the security of a large company capable of producing new and updated product ranges, utilising the many new buildings that can produce more than 50,000 units per single shift year and nearly 100,000 in double shifts. Everyone was captivated by the European standards of the factory and build quality of the products. Furthermore, the new product development programme caused much excitement. Dealers commented how impressed they were by the advancement in the new models produced. Some of the new models witnessed at the China visit will be displayed at Samuk’s forthcoming Open Days in June 2006.

Credibly, the most significant conclusion regarding the Samuk China Visit is the positive attitude regarding the strength and stability of Hangcha as a major supplier in the industry, producing quality products that compete with Europe. The growth of the factory and ambitious new product development programme aimed at worldwide distribution and aftersales service ensures stability amongst distributors and dealers alike.

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