Toyota Continuous its Dedication to Philanthropy

Toyota remains committed to philanthropic efforts for various organizations that benefit the environment, veterans groups, safety issues and local community-related groups. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and groups dedicated to helping, Toyota has created employment opportunities, provided financial contributions for disaster relief, and supported safety-related and environmentally friendly efforts.

"It is a priority for Toyota and our associates to support the advancement of society - whether it is to better the environment or lend a helping hand to those that need it," said Jeff Rufener, president of TMHU.

Toyota Plants More than 50,000 Trees through Arbor Day Foundation

Through a long-term partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Toyota has helped plant more than 50,000 trees across the United States. For every designated Toyota lift truck sold, Toyota has made a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to have a tree planted in a forest damaged by fire or other natural causes in the US and in Canada. In addition, for every new 8-Series lift truck sold in 2013, Toyota will make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to have a tree planted. Toyota estimates the donation will equate to 30,000 trees.

Providing a Lift to Veterans

Toyota's "Giving Veterans a Lift" program was created to help the country's veterans by offering discounted operator safety training for those interested in becoming certified forklift operators. The program also assists Toyota's dealers in recruiting qualified service technicians, while at the same time providing veterans with employment. In addition to providing employment opportunities. Toyota has provided financial donations to various veterans groups such as Hire Heroes USA, Wounded Warrior Project, and many more.

Local Communities Benefit from Toyota's Commitment to Safety

In addition to manufacturing the 8-Series lift trucks that offer leading-edge safety technology such as Toyota's exclusive System of Active Stability (SAS), Toyota also invested in safety for the local communities or Irvine, CA (former national headquarters) and Columbus, IN (new headquarters and home of the manufacturing plant). TMHU sponsored events for free inspections of child safety seats and booster seats with the help of certified child passenger and safety technicians and volunteers from SafetyBeltSafe USA. Toyota associates supported the events by participating in the events as volunteers. The Columbus, IN safety event took place at the headquarters of juvenile products manufacturer, Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.

Toyota Supports Local Educational Program

In an effort to contribute and enrich the Plainfield, IN Vincennes University Logistics Education and Training Center, Toyota donated equipment and resources to further the goals of the University's material handling and warehouse training programs. By providing lift truck engines, lift trucks and hands-on instruction in TMHU's "Train-the-Trainer" Operator Safety Program, Toyota is offering students a valuable hands-on opportunity to gain the required skills necessary to maintain and safely operate a forklift.

"Denim for Dollars" Provide Support for National Charities

Created to build community support and associate morale, Toyota's "Denim for Dollars" program identifies a national nonprofit organization each month and Toyota associates are invited to contribute a minimum of $5 in exchange for getting to wear jeans to work on the last Friday of the month. Benefiting charities include American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Make-a-Wish Foundation of America, and many more.

Toyota Material Handling Unveils Grand Opening of North American National Headquarters

Toyota Material Handling, USA Inc., (TMHU), maker of the number one lift truck in North America, recently unveiled the company's new North American headquarters in Columbus, IN. The ceremony, which took place on November 4, included a ribbon cutting and line-off of the company's new 8-Series large capacity forklift, marked the final stage of a strategic initiative to align TMHU's sales and marketing team with its manufacturing plant - Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM).

The new North American headquarters represents a $4.6 million investment, adding 21,400 square feet to
the Toyota campus, which includes the manufacturing facility and national headquarters. The combined TMHU and TIEM campus now totals more than 1 million square feet of manufacturing and support space and houses more than 1,000 Toyota associates.

"Toyota made a commitment more than one year ago to align our teams under one roof to combine synergies and allow us to be even more responsive to customer and dealer needs," said Jeff Rufener, TMHU president. "We celebrate this partnership and set our sights on continued leadership in the market and support of our associates, dealers and customers."

World-Class Campus Supports Continued Growth Locally and Abroad

Toyota has become the industry leader through unparalleled quality of lift truck design and leading-edge manufacturing capabilities. In 1990, TIEM became the first Toyota lift truck manufacturing plant outside of Japan.

During the last two decades, TIEM associates have built more than 450,000 lift trucks and Toyota has steadily grown in the North American market to become the number one lift truck supplier since 2002.

"Toyota celebrates several milestones today that will continue to strengthen our position as a world-class leader while serving the best interest of our customers. By uniting TMHU and TIEM onto one central campus, we are fostering increased collaboration that will further improve efficiencies and product development. Additionally, with the introduction of Toyota's large capacity 8-Series lift truck, Toyota continues to deliver innovation in product performance, fuel-efficiency and safety to our industry," said TIEM's president Toshiya Tamagishi. "Looking ahead, TIEM's model of excellence will be emulated in a new lift truck manufacturing plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil."

As the "lead plant" for Toyota's Sao Paulo manufacturing facility, TIEM associates from Indiana are responsible for training the Brazil plant leaders on production engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance and production control. Upon completion of the new facility, TIEM will be the first Toyota industrial manufacturing plant outside of Japan to supply parts to a Toyota Industries Corporation plant in another country and is expected to supply the Brazil plant with 31% of its forklift parts manufactured in Indiana.

TIEM Investment in Community Represents More than $117 Million

When TIEM established its state-of-the-art, $60 million lift truck plant operations in 1990, the facility covered approximately seven acres under one roof. Since that time, TIEM has undergone 12 expansions. The zero land-fill campus now totals more than 1 million square feet of facilities sitting on 126 acres. Representing an investment of $117 million, the campus includes the new North American headquarters, National Customer Center, training center, manufacturing operations, and distribution centers for equipment and service parts to meet the needs of Toyota's customers.

The facility has the capability to manufacture a wide range of industrial equipment used in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments including: 3-wheel and 4-wheel electric lift trucks, internal combustion cushion tire and pneumatic tire lift trucks, and DC/AC inverter assemblies for the Toyota Tacoma.

Forklift Safety for a Better Tomorrow

No job can - or should - be completed without proper safety protocols in place. This is particularly true when dealing with heavy machinery, such as forklifts, in the workplace. Learn the key features of a safe forklift, the statistics on the features that most buyers prefer, and the best practices for workplace safety while operating a forklift.

Toyota has developed the world's first System of Active StabilityTM (SAS), derived from automotive technology. Toyota's SAS and Active Mast Control (AMC) technologies were designed specifically to reduce the likelihood of tipovers. Following the introduction of SAS, transportation injuries involving forklifts in the United States decreased while the SAS field population increased between 1999 and 2010. While mandatory operator training enacted by OSHA certainly plays a large part in these reductions, the safety impact provided by SAS cannot be underestimated - Toyota's SAS system helps reduce the likelihood of overturn accidents.

From warehouses to manufacturing plants, forklifts are a vital tool of productivity, moving everything from parts to potatoes. With thousands of forklift injuries occurring every year, forklift safety awareness is essential. See statistics on the safety features most buyers prefer and how Toyota's System of Active Stability helps reduce the risk of tipovers with the infographic below:

10 Ways Your Facility Can Become More Environmentally Friendly

Toyota is committed to continuously improving its environmental stewardship, and is asking its partners to do the same. Instituting recycling programs, minimizing pollution and promoting the advantages of electric-powered lift trucks are just a few considerations that make a difference. Here are 10 ways that will help your facility become more environmentally friendly:

1. Minimize waste by recycling and looking at your process to reduce the amount of raw materials used.
2. For remaining waste, consider a waste-to-energy facility. Is there a way to reuse the waste that was created?
3. Consider changing your thermostat. Allowing the temperature range to be a little warmer in the summer months and cooler in the winter months can have a very positive impact on the environment and reduce your company's overall carbon footprint.
4. Increase your number of alternative fuel lift trucks, whether electric, propane or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). For example, propane is non-toxic and clean-burning, so it's versatile enough for indoor or outdoor applications. It's also safe and economical and requires little maintenance.
5. Start a recycling program at your facility. Set goals for reduction in waste that goes to landfills.
6. Install an energy-efficient lighting system.
7. Encourage your vendors and partners to adopt "green" initiatives.
8. Encourage carpooling among employees and offer incentives for doing so.
9. See if fast charging makes sense for your facility, and reduce the number of batteries used.
10. Recycle used oil.
    

Following these simple tips can not only help your facility become more environmentally friendly, but also help lower your overall operating costs. Shoppa's Mid America can start you on the right track with alternative fuel lift trucks and battery washing and maintenance programs. Contact us today to get started on your own environmental stewardship program today.

Toyota Named Green Supply Chain Partner for Fifth Consecutive Year

Toyota Material Handling was named to Inbound Logistics' list of 2013 Green Supply Chain Partners. The company was chosen in part for its environmentally friendly solutions, green manufacturing process and continued dedication to supply chain sustainability. This is the fifth year TMHU has been named to the list - every year since the award's inception.

"The Green Supply chain list honors companies that have made sustainability a priority, and continue to push Inbound Logistics. "Toyota, for a fifth consecutive year, was recognized for creating an organizational culture where sustainability permeates all aspects of its manufacturing processes, extending to its suppliers as well."
the needle in terms of innovation and execution," explained Felecia Stratton, editor for

"Toyota operates under a global earth charter that promotes environmental responsibility throughout our entire company," Jeff Rufener, president of TMHU said. "At every stage of the production cycle - from raw materials and parts procurement to manufacturing and recycling - Toyota minimizes the environmental impact of every product."

The Green 75 feature is designed to provide decision support for Inbound Logistics' readers who seek to do business with sustainable providers. To be eligible for the ranking, companies must provide logistics services with an emphasis on eco-friendly solutions.

Celebrating more than 45 years in business in North America, TMHU is the supplier of Toyota lift trucks, the number one selling brand since 2002. In addition to the full line of high-quality lift trucks, the company's extended industrial equipment solutions include Automated Guided Vehicles and tow tractors. Quality is the hallmark of the Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), a zero-landfill facility in Columbus, Inc. TIEM, named a 2011 North American Best Plant by IndustryWeek magazine, is a member of the National Safety Council, complies with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization and has produced more than 400,000 Toyota lift trucks since its opening in 1990.

For more information about the Toyota line of lift trucks, visit our website.

Toyota and the Future of the Lift Truck Market

After the recent launch of the new 8-Series Large Capacity lift truck line, Jeff Rufener, president of Toyota Material Handling USA, sat down with Material Handling & Logistics to talk about the future of the lift truck market.

In the interview, Jeff speaks on the current challenges facing the industrial truck market as well as the opportunities ahead including advances in technology and the ever-changing energy situation in this country.

Read the full article here.

For more information about the new Toyota 8-Series Large Capacity lift truck line, contact Shoppa's Mid America today.

Toyota Commits to Arbor Day Foundation to Plant a Tree For Every 8-Series Lift Truck Sold in 2013

Toyota Material Handling, USA, Inc. (TMHU), the supplier of the number one selling lift truck in North America, recently announced that for every new 8-Series lift truck sold in 2013, Toyota will make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to have a tree planted in a forest damaged by fire or other natural causes in the US and Canada. Toyota estimates the donation to equate to 30,000 trees. To date, TMHU has planted more than 50,000 trees through the Arbor Day Foundation.

"We're please to have Toyota Material Handling's commitment to preserving and improving our environment," said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The National Arbor Day Foundation is proud to have a partner in Toyota to help restore critical ecosystems people and wildlife depend on to survive."

Toyota is the world's largest supplier of lift trucks, which are used in applications ranging from retail to food and beverage warehousing. TMHU recently unveiled its new 8-Series large capacity 8,000 - 17,500 lb. cushion and pneumatic lift trucks, which include newly designed diesel and gas engines that enhance performance and fuel economy. Designed to reduce engine emissions and fuel consumption, once again. Toyota leads the way in environmental performance.

"There is long standing commitment to the environment at Toyota, not just through our product innovations in electric and low emission IC forklifts, but also through our zero landfill manufacturing practices implemented at Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfs., Inc.," said Jeff Rufener, president of TMHU. "We make it a priority to support, appreciate and respect the environment."

About the National Arbor Day Foundation

The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.

For more information about the new Toyota 8-Series line of lift trucks, please visit our website or contact Shoppa's Mid America today!

Toyota Expands 8-Series Lift Truck Line with New Large Capacity Models, Two Powerful New Engines

Earlier this week, Toyota unveiled its 8-Series large capacity lift truck line of cushion and pneumatic tire models powered by two new Toyota-designed and built 4-cylinder, high-performance engines. Designed for customers in both indoor and outdoor applications like the paper, lumber and concrete industries, and large distribution centers needing to move heavy loads, the 8-Series line-up now includes 8,000 to 17,500 lb. pneumatic models with diesel, LPG, gasoline and dual fuel engines, along with cushion LPG-powered models with 8,000 to 15,500 lb. lifting capacities. In addition, Toyota is introducing a 12,000 lb. paper roll special model to meet the challenges faced by the paper industry in moving paper rolls.

"Forklift users in virtually any work environment can now experience the next generation of powerful industrial lift truck 'workhorses' fueled by the industry's cutting-edge engine technology," said Jeff Rufener, president of TMHU. "We designed our new 8-Series models to benefit our customers by delivering significant fuel savings without the sacrifice of performance."

Toyota-Built Engines Offer Next Generation of Power, Achieve Up to 30% More Fuel Efficiency Over Previous Models

Powering the 8-Series are two powerful Toyota engines - 1KD diesel and 1FS gasoline/LPG - designed for industrial operation and built by Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), manufacturer of more than 15 million engines to date. These new 4-cylinder engines feature the latest electronic fuel injection systems with Controller Area Network (CAN-BUS) technology to deliver substantial improvements over the previous 6-cylinder engines they replaced. Thanks to new engineering advancements, Toyota's 8-Series engines provide the same or greater horsepower and torque as an inline 6-cylinder engine, while achieving greater fuel savings. On average, the 8-Series models reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent for the 1KD diesel engine and 20 percent* for the 1FS gasoline/LPG model.

Toyota's 8-Series lift trucks offer a range of
lifting capacities from 8,000 to 17,500 lbs.

To ensure optimal performance, the engines underwent two years of design, calibration and rigorous testing including 10,000 hour test cycles on the dynamometer. The result of this extensive product development process is a powerful 1FS gasoline/LPG engine displacing 3.7 liters that boasts a high efficiency design to offer up to 93 horsepower and 203 ft./lbs. of torque. And thanks to a newly designed 1KD 3.0 liter diesel engine with common rail fuel injection, the 8-Series large capacity pneumatic lift truck models offer quicker throttle response and precise control of the amount of fuel being injected and burned for greater fuel efficiency.

To meet today's emissions requirements, the 1KD fuel injection system works in conjunction with an intercooled, variable nozzle turbocharger and a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), minimizing emissions and particulate matter to levels meeting the Tier-4 Final emissions standards. The result of these advancements equates to less downtime, lower costs, and increased productivity compared to other solutions in use today.

In addition, Toyota has developed three (3) additional fuel saving features:

• A standard Load Sensing Power Steering system for precise maneuverability and reduced engine power loads by only operating the power steering system when there is demand from the driver;
• An Economy or "Eco" Mode to help improve truck fuel efficiency over the course of the work day with minimum power reduction by optimizing the performance curve of the engine to work conditions; and
• A programmable Auto Engine Off feature that automatically powers down the lift truck after a user programmable preset amount of time to save both fuel and unnecessary wear and tear on the engine.

Built to Deliver Quality, Durability and Reliability

Emphasis on improving and maximizing uptime was a key focus in the design of the 8-Series. The redesigned chassis features fully stamped steel plate side panel construction and a significant reduction in cosmetic sheet metal and plastic. Critical controllers and relays are protected in a sealed box and new water-resistant connectors help guard against damage when working in adverse weather conditions and corrosive applications. Rear combination lights are mounted high on the overhead guard for improved protection and long-life LED combination lights are available for added reliability. In addition, an improved cooling system featuring a 55% larger radiator and an external hydraulic cooler provide extra capacity to handle working in high temperature environments. A standard engine protection system automatically reduces the engine's output if the coolant temperature rises to potentially damaging levels to help protect the engine against heat damage.

Toyota's 8-Series large capacity lift trucks are designed to
support customers in both indoor and outdoor applications
such as paper, lumber and concrete industries.

Ergonomic Features for Operator Comfort

Operator comfort was a top priority in the design of the 8-Series large capacity lift truck line. Ergonomic improvements have been made to the floor space, entry step, a curvilinear overhead guard post shape and a smaller diameter steering wheel - all developed to enhance operator comfort. Features like the new 12-inch long dual operator assist grips provide an easy to grip hand hold for stability when entering the lift truck. Combined with a lowered and enlarged first step make this one of the easiest lift trucks in its class to enter and exit from. Optional mini-lever hydraulic controls provide easy to use electronic controls along with a three-way adjustable armrest to enhance operator comfort and productivity.

Industry-Proven Safety Benefits

The 8-Series large capacity lift trucks offer Toyota's exclusive System of Active StabilityTM (SAS), which helps reduce the likelihood of lateral and longitudinal tipovers. When the SAS system detects instability, its advance sensors simultaneously signal and engage the appropriate controller. The Active Control Rear Stabilizer System and the Active Mast Function Controller System work in conjunction to add truck stability and help reduce the likelihood of a lateral overturn and decrease the chance of spilling a load or tipping the lift truck forward or backward. Additionally, for added operator safety, a vehicle travel speed control system has been incorporated as standard equipment, which helps regulate the lift truck's maximum travel speed to meet a wide range of operator skill levels.

A variety of features work together to provide optimal visibility to provide better performance and productivity for the operator. Dash-mounted digital displays combined with the low profile cowl with sloped dashboard provide an unobstructed view of the forktips in any position. Strategic placement of the overhead guard bars provide ideal visibility when positioning forks and handling loads placed high on racking. A wide view rear overhead guard opening with high mount rear lights integrated into the overhead guard and low profile LPG tank placement help provide operators the view they require when driving in reverse. The new lift trucks will be manufactured at Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), in Columbus, IN with orders currently being accepted.

For more information about the new 8-Series large capacity Toyota forklifts, contact a Shoppa's Mid America sales representative today!