08.02.2008

Aichi decides against overseas production

At a meeting yesterday to unveil its new Booms and Scissor lifts, we had the chance to conduct a brief interview with Aichi president and chief executive officer S.Takeuchi.

Takeuchi stated categorically that the company has no plans for the foreseeable future to build Aichi aerial lifts outside of Japan. The only exception to this is its operation in China which builds a variety of specialised products for the local market.
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S.Takeuchi

Aichi had suggested last year that it would build both scissors and booms in the USA and Europe, and it was confirmed that the company had looked very seriously at facilities in Holland and the Mid West of the USA. It had also obtained local quotes from key suppliers in preparation for a start up in late 2007 early 2008.

However Takeuchi stated categorically that these were studies intended to look at the feasibility of producing machines closer to the end market and that on final reflection it had decided that it would be better served by increasing capacity at its current facilities in Japan.

Takeuchi did confirm that Aichi is accelerating its plans to become a full line global producer of aerial lifts with a full scissor, straight boom and articulating boom line likely to be in place by 2010.

He also confirmed that the next new products should arrive later this year and will include at least one new scissor model or family and a new boom. One of the new scissors is likely to be a smaller model, most likely a 19ft ‘elevator’ model.

In terms of European distribution Aichi has now moved into its new offices in Oosterhout, Holland, recently vacated by Aichi Sales Office its master dealer which has moved to new premises close-by.

Takeuchi says that the company’s approach going forward will include the addition of a number of new dealers, some of which will work directly with its representative office and some of which will work through its master distributor.

The company has France and Germany on it priority list to find distributors, along with a number of smaller markets.