Sustained Innovation and Creativity - Toyota Industries Corporation

Focus onBusiness1Materials Handling EquipmentTopicsToyota Industries World Convention 2005In April 2005, the Toyota Industries World Convention was heldin Japan to share the vision for further growth of the MaterialsHandling Equipment Business among the TOYOTA/BT-relateddistributors and dealers around the world. At the convention,everyone present pledged their unity to solidify ToyotaIndustries’ global top position in the materials handlingequipment industry under the slogan “United We Grow.” Theintegration of TMHC and the BT Industries Group under theframework of TMHG as a means of further creating synergieswas also announced.Development of Fuel-Cell Lift TrucksToyota Industries developed the fuel-cell hybrid system forlift trucks in-house, a fi rst among lift truck manufacturers. TheTOYOTA FCHV-F lift truck, which incorporates the fuel-cellhybrid system jointly developed with Toyota Motor Corporation(TMC), was exhibited at CeMAT 2005, an internationaltrade fair for intralogistics held inHannover, Germany, in October2005. Although a few technical issuesmust still be addressed prior tocommercialization and widespreaduse, the fuel-cell lift truck has greatmarket potential due to itssuperior features.FCHV-F fuel-cell lift truckFull Model Change of Compact Electric TowTractorsThe new Tugnova* (CBT/CBTY) series of electric tow tractors (2-to 4-ton towing capacity) was introduced into the Japaneseand overseas markets in March 2006 aftera full model change. This was the fi rsttime for Toyota Industries to incorporatean AC drive system in its compact towtractors, achieving superior operabilityand lower maintenance costs andensuring a high standard of safety.Tugnova (CBT)* A coined word that combines the English word “tug” and the Latin word “nova,”which means “new,” as well as the English word “innovation,” meaning a newkind of tow tractorsBT Industries Celebrates its 60th AnniversaryA key part of TMHG’s operations, BT Industries AB wasestablished in Sweden in 1946, when it began sellingconstruction and transportation equipment, and has sinceexpanded its operations worldwide. In addition to acquiringThe Raymond Corporation of the United States in 1997 andCESAB Carrelli Elevatori S.p.A of Italy in 1999, BT Industriessubsequently established a production and sales structurein the United States, while expanding its product lineup inEurope. In 2000, BT Industries became one of Toyota Industries’subsidiaries and is now carrying out its business by pursuingsynergies with the TOYOTA brand under the framework ofTMHG.50th Anniversary of Lift Truck Sales in Japan and20th Anniversary of Domestic Sales of MaterialsHandling SystemsIn 2006, Toyota Industries marked the 50th anniversary of sellingTOYOTA-brand lift trucks in Japan and its 20th anniversarysince commencing sales of materials handling systems suchas automatic guided vehicle systems. A ceremony was heldin April 2006 to celebrate these anniversaries with domesticdistributors and related persons.Joint Development of Electric CounterbalancedLift Trucks for the European MarketTMHC and the BT Industries Group jointly developed athree-wheel electric counterbalanced lift truck for theEuropean market and started shipment of the product inJanuary 2006. Cesab, which is part of the BT Industries Group,took the initiative in the development and produces theproduct in Italy. The lift truck is marketed as the TRAIGO underthe TOYOTA brand, the Cargo under the BT brand and the Blitzunder the CESAB brand.Full Model Change of 1- to 3.5-Ton InternalCombustion Lift TrucksIn September 2006, Toyota Industries will commence sales of1- to 3.5-ton internal combustion lift trucks in Japan followinga full model change (sold as the GENEO in Japan and the8-Series overseas). The 1- to 3.5-ton class internal combustion lifttrucks dominate approximately 50% of the Japanese lift truckmarket and are used by a wide variety of customers primarilyin the transport and warehouse industries. Toyota Industriesembarked on the development of newlift trucks to attain an even higher levelof performance and functionality inthe areas of safety, environmentalfeatures and ease of operation. Thisproduct series will be introducedgradually to the U.S. andEuropean markets.New GENEO (8-Series) internalcombustion counterbalanced lift truck22 Toyota Industries Corporation Annual Report 2006