MAJOR TCM PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS SET TO FURTHER LIFT SHARE OF AUSTRALIAN MARKET
Leading Japanese industrial forklifts manufacturer, TCM, has introduced a string of new products to boost its already significant 10% share of the Australian market.
At the Australian launch in Melbourne earlier this month (15 February 2006), TCM unveiled a family of iNOMA four-wheel counterbalance internal combustion forklifts, announced its FTB VII Series of three-wheel battery electric offerings and introduced its skid steer loaders to Australia.
The world launch of the products is set for Bangkok, Thailand, next month.
The iNOMA products further enhance the company’s successful one-to-three-tonne range while the FTB VII Series is set to strengthen TCM's position in the rapidly growing battery electric class – in both Australia and the world. Finally, the launch marks the first time in TCM’s history that its skid steer loaders, a longstanding success story in Japan, have been made available to the Australian market.
The launch event, one of the most significant in recent TCM history, was hosted by the company's national distributor for Australia, NTP Forklifts Australia, and attended by TCM’s General Manager: Marketing, Masa-aki Sumida; and Regional Manager for Asia Pacific, Hiroshi Narukawa.
Mr Sumida told the launch audience - made up of major account customers, dealers, and NTP administrative and factory staff – that as part of its commitment to innovation, TCM introduces new models every three years, as opposed to the industry standard of eight to 10 years. Existing products, he added, are fine-tuned and enhanced during the intervening years.
Sharing the platform with Mr Sumida, NTP Forklifts Australia Managing Director, John Naffine, noted that the TCM announcement ensures that Australian customers remain at the forefront of forklift technology.
"These products are testament to TCM’s commitment to the Australian market, to providing it with innovative, reliable and robust machines that cost less to run and maintain," he said.
The revolutionary iNOMA (an acronym for Innovative Machine) family of internal combustion forklift trucks comprises a two-tonne, a 2.5-tonne and a three-tonne model. All models retain the engineering toughness and durability hallmarks of their TCM predecessors while introducing new features to enhance performance and productivity.
These include the Nissan K-Series engine that offers greater responsiveness, a roomier interior for increased operator comfort, an integral side shift that brings less lost load and better forward visibility, and an array of design features that allow for enhanced safety, easier maintenance and quieter operation.
TCM's new FTB VII Series of electric three-wheel forklift trucks builds on the company's reputation as an environmentally responsible manufacturer. The Series is aimed specifically at the more sensitive work environments like those found in the food processing industry and features two models, the FTB16 and the FTB18.
The former boasts a maximum capacity of 1,600kg and the latter a maximum capacity of 1,750kg, with both offering benefits such as enhanced battery power that delivers eight hours of continuous operation; a selection of economy, power or super travelling and lifting speeds, and numerous safety devices and ergonomic features. Its tight turning radius allows it to address materials handling challenges where space constraints dictate the need for forklifts that – while not required to lift particularly heavy items – offer great manoeuvrability.
TCM skid steer loaders have long enjoyed a dominant share of the Japanese market. The introduction to Australia of the groundbreaking new 7 Series is expected to be well-received by the local construction, engineering, livestock and agriculture sectors, especially as it is packed with features required to take on and beat the established competition. The six models in the robust range all come with plenty of power, agile movement, enhanced operator comfort and attractive styling.
The new family of TCM products will be widely available in Australia from March 2006. For further product information, please call your TCM State Distributor on 1300 367 011 or visit www.tcmforklifts.com.au.