| A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for Material Handling Equipment Distributors |
August
1, 2003
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| MHEDA welcomes new Distributor Members ITE LLC of Raynham, MA and Atlantic Lift Truck of Baltimore, MD and new Supplier/Associate Member Engine Control Systems of Newmarket, ON, Canada. FCC REVISES FAX REGULATIONS On July 25, the FCC published new guidelines regulating unsolicited fax advertisements, stating that companies or trade associations wishing to fax unsolicited advertisements to customers or members must obtain their express written permission to do so before transmitting any faxes to them. "Advertisements" include any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods or services, which could include product information, special promotions, closeouts, value-added services, sale of publications and availability of other products or services. This rule negates the clause in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 that stated that an established business relationship between a fax sender and recipient establishes the requisite consent to receive telephone facsimile advertisements. The regulations are scheduled to take effect on August 25, and will have an impact on how MHEDA members communicate with their customers. The American Society of Association Executives filed petitions seeking a stay on the new rules and exemption for nonprofit organizations. In compliance with the regulations, MHEDA has prepared a letter seeking members' approval to continue faxing information. The MHEDA Connection will provide more information on this situation as it becomes available. NACCO NAMED TO "PERFECT 10" NACCO Industries was named part of the "Perfect 10 Portfolio" for 2003-2004 by Bloomberg columnist John Dorfman. The Perfect 10 is an annual list of stocks that offer the best return potential over a 2 to 3-year horizon. Said Dorfman in a recent column, "I expect that the current tepid manufacturing climate will heat up, helping the forklift end of the business." MANUFACTURING ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL Durable goods orders climbed 2.1% in June, according to a Commerce Department report released July 25. The figure marks a much stronger performance than the 1.2% increase economists forecasted, and gives rise to hope that the manufacturing sector is making a comeback. Excluding the transportation sector, orders for durable goods gained 1.4% in June following a 0.9% May increase. The June numbers were the largest increase in orders since January, when they were up 1.5%. Economists suggest the numbers indicate the manufacturing industry is turning a corner, which is good news both for manufacturers and for the national economy. ANTIFRAUD EFFORTS BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH Last week the White House said its efforts at combating corporate corruption have boosted investor confidence, and SEC Chairman William H. Donaldson suggests the Bush administration deserves partial credit for the stock market rally in recent months. In the year since the White House formed a task force in response to the Enron collapse and other white-collar scandals, prosecutors have won over 250 corporate fraud convictions. In the next issue of The MHEDA Journal, MHEDA members provide perspectives on business ethics and confronting corporate fraud. Read about it in the Fall 2003 issue of The MHEDA Journal. INDUSTRY
BEAT
Schmelzer Named Sales Rep (Jackson, MS) • Jody Schmelzer was named a sales rep covering southern Mississippi for Equipment, Inc. Schmelzer joined the company in October 2002, working first in parts and service, followed by aftermarket product support. He is a third-generation family member to work for the company.
New Hires at CMH Services (Columbia, SC) • Devin Terry was named vice president of sales for Carolina Material Handling Services. Terry will be responsible for all sales within South Carolina. Bob Risheill was named manager of the company's Greenville, SC dealership. Hyster Wins GM Contract (Greenville, NC) • Hyster Company was awarded a 3-year unit contract for the sourcing of General Motors' lift truck equipment. The contract also includes an option to renew for 2 additional years. The agreement covers lift truck installations in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico and the U.S. and will apply to GM worldwide operations as needed. GM also extended its fleet management contract with Hyster to coincide with the term of the unit contract.
Shannon Appoints Managers (Grand Prairie, TX) • Shannon Corp. named Jim Aylward manager of product support. Aylward will be responsible for product support personnel and aftermarket sales. Jim Kuykendall was promoted to sales manager. Michelin Moves Production to U.S. (Greenville, SC) • Michelin moved production of XZSL Skid Steer tires to the company's production facility in Spartanburg, SC from central France. Says Michael Ford, market segment manager for skid steer tires at Michelin Earthmover, "Seventy-five percent of the global market for skid steer tires is located in North America." Alvey Opens Southwest Office (St. Louis, MO) • FKI Logistex Alvey Systems opened a new satellite office in Scottsdale, AZ to focus on markets in Arizona and Las Vegas, NV. Sales Engineer Tim Lasko will lead the Alvey Southwest team. CONFERENCE CALL SOLVES IT ALL FOR ADVANCED HANDLING SYSTEMS For one customer in Kentucky, the promises made by Advanced Handling Systems Company (Cincinnati, OH) couldn't possibly add up. "He thought our competitive price and same-day service were too good to be true. We had to prove ourselves," says Darin Woods, AHS customer service representative. To combat the skepticism, Woods connected the customer on a three-way conference call to Dura-Belt's Jim Hammond, vice president of sales & engineering. Hammond explained how to spot symptoms of problems on an old conveyor and told the customer about Dura-Belt's composition, design and warranty. All the customer needed was proof, and Woods and Hammond provided it. They challenged the customer to put 40 belts of each brand on the same conveyor section to compare and offered to color code the Dura-Belts to prevent confusion during the test. The customer was convinced. He placed an order over the phone, and the belts were drop-shipped the same day.
Get Results that Gain Maximum Impact • By advertising in the MHEDA Directory, you can get the right product ideas across to the right audience. The Directory contains over 700 material handling company listings and offers competitive rates and long-term frequency of ad exposure. Join the 40 companies who placed ads in the 2003 Membership Directory – they know a great advertising venue when they see one. Rates start at $850 and available options include 4 color, cover positions, section dividers and tip-in postcards. The 2004 Directory will be mailed in early December 2003. Tear sheets and invoices will be mailed in January 2004. Call Evelyn McWilliams at MHEDA (847) 680-3500 or e-mail emcwilliams@mheda.org to get the best option for your advertising dollar! In
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