CLARK Europe GmbH is the European central headquarters of CLARK Material Handling Company, a manufacturer of material handling equipment and logistics systems. The company services the markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East through nationwide networks of distribution partners. The product portfolio includes electric three- and four-wheel lift trucks (1.3 – 5 t), diesel- and gas-powered forklift trucks with air, SE or cushion tyres (1.5 – 8 t capacity) and warehouse trucks. CLARK Material Handling Company, based in the USA, is considered the inventor of the forklift truck and looks back on a more than 100-year history. CLARK machines offer robustness, numerous possibilities of use and low total cost of ownership. In a study by the US trade journal Modern Materials Handling, which surveyed 1,300 logistics experts, CLARK came in number one in the category price-performance ratio. CLARK (“Built to last”) produced its 1,000,000th forklift back in 1997.
Rolf Eiten, CEO & President and Kevin Tims, Regional Dealer Manager UK, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
WLN – As the Counter Balance Fork Truck category experts, how has the category been performing in the last 12 months? What are the major trends and developments?
Overall our CLARK Europe sales territory which consists of of all Europe including Russia, Africa and Middle East, we recognise a market growth compared to last year. Also the UK is a strong market for CLARK with a lot of potential for further growth. We have a good and strong dealer network in the UK, which we are looking to further strengthen and our market shares are growing. In IC we expect more sales on the LPG driven units. As a European trend we can recognise the Electric RCB market is further growing. As a matter of fact also the warehousing market is growing further. From the customer’s point of view TCO is a main focus as well as getting value for money.
WLN – What are your core products and services: what are you best known for providing?
Our core product portfolio includes electric three- and four-wheel lift trucks (1.3 – 5 t), diesel- and gas-powered forklift trucks with air, SE or cushion tyres (1.5 – 8 t capacity) and warehouse trucks.
Our trucks are especially well known for low total cost of ownership, robustness and “Built to Last” quality.
WLN – What developments or upgrades have you made to your core products and services in the last 12 months?
We have done many upgrades on the ergonomic and performance of our trucks during the last months.
The CLARK 2 to 3,5 ton LPG trucks have now a more powerful engine with 51.6 kW power. As a result, customers have more and more the possibility to choose LPG trucks as powerful as Diesel engine trucks, which have been upgraded to stage 3B tier 4 emission compliant.
Additionally, we have upgraded our cabins for the 2 to 3.5 ton trucks. To enhance comfort and ergonomics, CLARK customers can choose between 4 different cabin levels starting with a weather protection up to a full steel cabin.
New interior upgrades allow it to individualise these cabins even further. On the 4ton to 5ton range the CLARK cabins have also been upgraded to offer more convenience and comfort.
Together with a new very maintenance friendly Deutz diesel engine (Emission stage 3b) and new dual lift cylinders for greatly increased visibility this CLARK range has upgraded a lot.
WLN – What makes you the ‘go to’ supplier in your area of expertise?
As the inventor of the forklift, we look back to nearly 100 years of experience in the forklift sector. Therefore, CLARK stands for experience and the CLARK brand name is well known in all industry sectors. Our trucks stand for a very low total cost of ownership and “Built to Last” quality. Through our dense network of dealers in Europe, Africa and Middle East we are able to offer fast service and support.
WLN – Have you launched any new products and services in the past year? How are they performing?
2015 has been seen CLARK launch the new CC range of warehouse products, which has expanded our material handling capability. The CC range is a comprehensive range of warehouse usage products, including pedestrian and ride on pallet movers and high lift stackers. This has been a natural development following the important core products in the warehouse technology range in the PX and SX series in 2014. We are now venturing into the ultimate field of warehousing technology with the introduction of new reach trucks.
The CLARK reach trucks SRX14 and SRX16 with load capacities from 1.4 to 1.6 tonnes and lifting heights up to 10.5 metres are poised to cover the important core area of warehouse and internal transport applications. After having been put through their paces in field tests, the first prototypes passed with very positive feedback. The reach trucks have been incorporated seamlessly into CLARK’s proven “Built to Last” concept. It stands for robust and functional designs following the principle “as much solid steel as possible and only as much plastic as needed.”
WLN – Which industry sectors are your customers in?
Everywhere! Forklifts are needed in nearly every industry sector, from single applications in small shops to fleet operators for example in big warehouses or distribution centres.
WLN – Can you name some of your major customers and tell us about the work you do for them?
We will not give detailed customer information, but for reference CLARK is a supplier to big customers like Coca Cola and Pilkington’s. These kind of customers look for rental and full service, which we offer via our dealer network.
WLN – Have you made any big moves recently in terms of investment in the business, recruitment and so on?
Yes, we continuously invest in our future. In 2014 we moved to our new premises in Duisburg. This was the biggest investment in 2014. Additionally, we hired new employees to support our workshop and engineering team. This results in better service to our dealers and customers. We are more flexible and able to offer customer specific modifications and so on. With our German based R&D team we highly focus on existing product development, new options for our European markets and new product development.
WLN – What was your company’s single biggest achievement in the last year?
Our biggest achievement has been the integration and launch of the CC warehouse pallet movers and high lift stackers. This represents a highly significant investment for CLARK on a global basis as well as in Europe.
The relocation from the traditional site in Mülheim an der Ruhr to our own, larger property in Duisburg in 2014 emphasised our continuous growth and success. The relocation was necessary to create new and extensive infrastructural opportunities for employees, workshop, assembly plant, training centre, new machine and spare parts storage. The new site also holds ready numerous improvements and significant potential for expansion and perfectly matches the requirement profile of CLARK Europe GmbH. The best conditions are hence created in order to further promote and develop the business in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
WLN – What are your plans for 2015/16? Are you planning to bring out any more products or services, move into new markets or enter new countries?
As previously stated the CLARK CC warehouse range of pedestrian, and ride pallet movers and high lift stackers, was unveiled to our CLARK Europe partners in early September, with representatives from over 30 countries present.
The results to date are showing that CLARK has again brought to the market what the market wants and needs. This expansion of the CLARK range is proving to be highly successful and is opening other markets for the dealer networks.
The greatly expanded warehouse in Duisburg has enabled focus on forklift and spare parts business development. This means product development of existing trucks, extension of our spare parts program but also development of our dealer network.
Additionally, we will focus on the promotion of our new electric low-lift pallet trucks and the pedestrian operated electric high-lift truck, as well as our new reach trucks SRX14 and SRX16.
WLN – Are you exhibiting at any major trade shows this year?
We will be exhibiting at CeMAT 2016 in Hannover and at LogiMAT 2016 in Stuttgart. Additionally we had a dealer opening event for our new CC range this year.
WLN – What are your predictions for the industry in 2016?
Overall we are expecting a growth especially in the European countries. European economics were suffering over a long period of time but we think we can expect further recovery in 2016 with a better GDP growth than in 2015.
WLN – What other headline news from your company can our readers look forward to reading about in Warehouse & Logistics News in 2016?
As you know we moved into our new premises for our HQ in Europe in February 2014. We have also started on our plan for a CKD assembly line in this place. Of course, this kind of step forward requires a certain period of time for proper preparation. We will keep you updated.
Furthermore, you can expect CLARK to further extend its range of products on RCB units as well as on warehousing units. We will bring quite a few of new products to the market in 2016.
CONTACT CLARK EUROPE GMBH
07799 665023
CLARKMHCEU
@clarkmheu
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