Other Material Handling Equipment

  • Parched Taiwan Prays for Rain as Sun Moon Lake Hit by Drought

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    Erik Martin
    Erik Martin

    TAIWAN — Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake is so low that parts of it have dried and turned to grass. Jetties that normally float are sprawled awkwardly on dry land, and tour boats are crowded at the tail ends of pontoons still in the water.

    Usually one of the island’s most famous tourist destinations, the lake has recently become a star of a different kind. Following the worst drought in 56 years, it is now famous for all the wrong reasons. These days, Instagram influencers photograph themselves posing in a dust-colored, dinghy half-buried in a cracked and cratered lakebed…

    But away from the quirky headlines, the situation is dire. Other reservoirs across central and southern Taiwan are effectively empty, down to 5% or less.

    Taiwan has had drought before, but observers are hoping the severity of this one – which has lasted 18 months and threatens Taiwan’s economic lifeblood of semiconductor production – is enough to prompt real action on climate change.

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  • NA Economic Outlook: Slower H1 2021, But Much Stronger H2 2021 Expected

    Yosyf Sheremeta
    Yosyf Sheremeta

    SUMMARY.  In our previous forecasts, we have discussed some hope for a V-shaped recovery, it did not materialize.  Our conclusion was based on several factors, such as the current economic cycle, overall strength of the economy, fiscal policy, political landscape in the US and globally, etc. After managing through the early stages of the pandemic in H1 2020, we saw good trends in H2 2020 and we had reasons to be optimistic for a quick recovery.

    However, the recovery took a slight pause during the last few months.  Unemployment continued to increase, and regional lockdowns prevented the necessary demand for a significant year-end growth.  Now that the elections are over, we’ll have yet to see what the new administration will be able to achieve during the next two years.  Specifically, if the long awaited infrastructure reform can be passed.  However, fiscal policy with near zero interest rates, which government has promised to keep in place for the near future, will provide a good platform for the economic recovery and allow us to look optimistically into 2021-2022.

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  • Magni, Bobcat Reach New Heights

    Emiliano Marzoli
    Emiliano Marzoli

    Magni TH, an Italian manufacturer of material handling equipment, has signed an agreement with Bobcat to supply a range of rotating telehandlers (RTH) between 18 and 39 meters. 

    The new machines will be produced in Italy, by Magni TH, with the Bobcat branding and stage V engines.  In order to achieve demand Magni has already developed a new facility, allowing the company to produce 3500 rotating telehandlers per year, once at full capacity.  This agreement will allow Magni to grow significantly according to their president and founder, Riccardo Magni.

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  • On-Highway Batteries Serve as Emergency Backup Power

    Audi and the utility EnBW are pioneering an energy storage facility built on retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This partnership is being billed as the solution to a major problem in each industry.

    Tyler Wiegert
    Tyler Wiegert

    For automobile manufacturers, the question of how to recycle retired batteries has been pressing for some time. Utilities have been struggling with the perverse problem that excess generation from renewable sources has been slowing adoption, as surges from those sources can disrupt the stability of power grids.

    EV batteries have a functional life of 3-10 years after they are retired from vehicle use, making them a ready tool for use by utilities.

    Portland General Electric Company (PGE) also is seeking to create a more resilient grid for the utilization of renewable energy sources. They are launching a pilot program to incentivize the installation of home battery systems to act as a virtual power plant.

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  • Southeast Asia: COVID-19 Stalls China’s Belt and Road Initiative

    Southeast Asia’s infrastructure development has begun to stall. China, which has been supporting the project, has been unable to proceed with its Belt and Road initiative for a broad economic zone due to restrictions on movement caused by the new coronavirus.

    Akihiro Komuro
    Akihito Komuro

    Southeast Asian countries also are prioritizing infection control and curbing the funds and human resources they invest in development. A major delay in the construction of infrastructure, which is the foundation of growth, could force foreign investors to reconsider their investment plans.

    In Indonesia, work on a high-speed railway (about 140 kilometers) linking the capital Jakarta with the major city of Bandung was recently halted. The project is financed by a Chinese bank, and the state-owned company is involved in the construction. The opening is expected to be postponed from the scheduled 2021.

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  • A new Era in EU Industrial Strategy

    This article appeared in the March issue of PowerTALK News.

    Read The Article

    The European Commission has released a document showing how they are going to support the European Industry in the challenging transformation required in the coming years. 

    Emiliano Marzoli
    Emiliano Marzoli

    The strategy is made up of three pillars designed to give European companies the opportunity to grow and strengthen their position in the global market. The pillars focus on global competitiveness, “green” development, and development of digital infrastructures.

    The green and digital transformations are critical to develop new skills and capabilities to retain Europe as an innovation leader.

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  • We Expect 2020 NA Overall OEM Production To Be Flat

    This article initially appeared in the February 2020 issue of PowerTALK News.

    SUMMARY.  The North American economy remained stable in 2019 and pure economic conditions as well as fundamentals in the region were favorable. Most industries performed very well, and the short-term outlook remains stable to flat for most market segments. However, we see many new developments that could suggest a shift in the trend.

    Yosyf Sheremeta
    Yosyf Sheremeta

    Consumer confidence declined slightly in December, following a moderate increase in November.  The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index stood at 126.5 in December, 1.4 points higher than in September 2019. 

    Per Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board: “While consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved, their expectations declined, driven primarily by a softening in their short-term outlook regarding jobs and financial prospects. While the economy hasn’t shown signs of further weakening, there is little to suggest that growth, and in particular consumer spending, will gain momentum in early 2020.”

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