First of all, Jon, can you talk us through the different products and services Toyota provides?
Toyota Material Handling covers the widest spectrum of material handling equipment available, from hand and powered pallet trucks to the new 9 series electric counterbalance which can silently handle loads up to 9000kg, we have solutions for virtually all challenges. From a technology point of view our products always lead the way; from our latest I_Site and Smart connectivity systems to our now 20-year-old SAS System of Active Stability, are highly practical but always game changing.
The same applies to our after sales methodology which blends Toyota lean practice with optimal engineering technology to ensure our customers are supported when it really matters.
What sets your company apart as a supplier in your category?
Customers choose Toyota because of our well-deserved reputation for delivering reliable, efficient and effective forklifts and warehousing solutions. This supported by our excellent after sales service and added value services such as thorough examinations, battery topping and tyres we are able to help even where others cannot. Added to this is our current Logistics Solutions and Automation capability plus our exciting technological developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence and telemetry, of which we are already clearly leaders in our category.
What business sectors are your customers in? Which industry sectors are growing fastest for you?
In the UK we work with a diverse range of customers from virtually all sectors as the need for materials handling is pretty much universal.
Our products cover a wide range of needs from general materials handling requirements through to specialised uses, so we have a broad appeal. We have experienced growth in ecommerce and direct fulfilment over recent years, plus an increased acceptance of automated forklifts, semi-automated order picking, enhanced safety systems and telemetry within customer supply chains.
Which of your core products and solutions are you presenting on your stand at IMHX? Are you launching anything new at the show?
The Toyota stand at IMHX encompasses aspects of all of our products and solutions. We’re offering some particular insight into addressing the areas of connectivity for trucks, different energy solutions and whether automation is right for a given situation. In addition, we plan to have on stand seminars, including one detailing the benefits of Toyota’s lean approach. We’ll also showcase some new developments at the show, but readers will need to visit the stand to find out more!
Why should busy professionals from the warehouse and logistics industry take time out to visit your stand at IMHX?
We recognize that everyone’s time is valuable, so for anyone visiting our stand we offer a significant opportunity to learn, not just about Toyota but also about new and emerging solutions to challenges like energy, connectivity and automation.
Toyota is a name synonymous with quality, precise and efficient production and Toyota Material Handling products very much live up to this promise. Our award-winning warehouse equipment and rugged counterbalance forklifts are industry leading in the areas of safety, durability and innovation – from our legendary hand pallet trucks through to our cutting-edge automated systems all deliver reliability, efficiency and of course an excellent return on investment.
Toyota Material Handling is also well known for leading after-sales service which supports customers by keeping forklift fleets (which also often include other manufacturers models) at peak efficiency.
At the heart of the organisation is the world-famous Toyota Production System (the original ‘Lean’ methodology) which along with our company values define the way we operate and our approach to customer service.
Toyota’s message at IMHX is THINK : LIKE : TOYOTA by which we mean that through using Toyota’s lean and detailed approach it is possible to become very efficient in any operation and make the best use of data, new energy solutions and the increasing levels of supply chain digitalisation technology.
What do you see as the main benefits to your company from being involved with IMHX?
IMHX is one of the key shows for material handling in the UK, and despite many of our competitors coming and going from the show Toyota has always been a loyal attendee. But it is just one of the many ways that we ensure we meet and communicate with existing and prospective customers. The IMHX event is a great opportunity for us to showcase a wide range of our trucks, technology and solutions in one place.
The last IMHX was 2016. How has your business changed since then?
We’ve continued our story of growth and innovation. There has been a focus on ongoing development of our automation offering and we are recruiting strongly to support that. Concepts shown as ideas at the last shown are now in our core range, proving IMHX is one of the best ways to see what we are going to do next.
Can you tell us about your major customer contract wins in the last three years? Do these represent new development areas for your company?
We have many major customers and we also have a great many smaller businesses that rely on us too. We can’t say much but one major new customer in industrial gases made us all smile, but seriously our customers are all equally important and we prefer to focus on our detailed understanding of their business needs and the challenges they face. This allows us to do much more than simply provide and service forklifts, we deliver a complete solution in materials handling.
Which other countries do you operate in besides the UK? Which overseas markets are most important for you?
Toyota Material Handling is and has been the World’s number one for many years, we operate in virtually every market worldwide. To continue the growth we also sometimes acquire businesses such as Vanderlande, who are also this year at IMHX. Overall our objective is to work as a team to deliver the benefits derived from our scale and international experience to our local market in a way which reflects the Toyota values of Respect and Kaizen (continuous improvement) instilled in the business by our founder.
It’s three years to the next IMHX. Where do you see your company going in that time?
Clearly, there’s a lot going on in the UK and it’s difficult to predict how different industries will respond and what market conditions will be like for all businesses. However, at Toyota Material Handling there will always be new developments in the pipeline. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you all about those today, but I can confirm with absolute certainty Toyota will continue to grow in the UK by acting according to our values, and making customers happy by delivering quality in everything we do.
CONTACT
Toyota Material Handling UK
0370 850 1409
marketing@uk.toyota-industries.eu
STAND NUMBER: 20D90
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