BT announces new counterbalance range

BT announces new counterbalance range Following its recent acquisition of 45% of the Italian truck manufacturer CESAB, BT Industries today announced a total of 7 counterbalance truck models that will be launched in Western Europe in 1999. BT Industries' partnership with CESAB CARRELLI ELEVATORI S.p.A. was announced just two weeks ago. By adding counterbalance trucks to its warehouse truck range, BT aims to improve service to existing customers and to develop new customer relationships. "The market is developing toward full-range suppliers," said BT Industries CEO and President Carl-Erik Ridderstråle, when announcing the deal. "The ability to offer counterbalance trucks in all our European markets is important to our continued growth." Up to 5 tons Christer Högberg, head of BT's operations in Western Europe, was visibly pleased today when presenting BT's range of counterbalance trucks during a press conference at Manutention 99 in Paris. The trucks, built by CESAB under the BT brand name, comprise 3- and 4-wheel electric and IC counterbalance trucks in capacities ranging from 1.2 to 5 tons. "With this range," commented Christer Högberg, "we can address the vast majority of the needs for counterbalance trucks." Service secured Christer Högberg specifically pointed to BT's comprehensive sales and service network in Europe as a base for building customer relationships, including CB trucks. He also underlined that CB's are not new to BT. "We have had CB's in our range since 1946 and we deliver hundreds of machines in Europe each year, though not under the BT brand," he explained. "A recent example is the UK, where CB's were introduced two years ago. They have been a great success, which to a large extent is a reflection of our sales and service capability. In addition, there are many similarities between warehouse trucks and electric counterbalance trucks in terms of applications, service and technology." Production increase The new CB range will be introduced in 1999 in seven European markets: Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Spain. The European market for electric counterbalance trucks, including after-sales, is estimated at SEK 15 billion annually, and Christer Högberg expressed confidence in BT's market objectives: "Within the not too distant future, we will see an additional 2,000 trucks in CESAB´s production." Through the increased volume, and by co-operating in areas such as purchasing and product development, the companies also expect cost reductions in CESAB´s manufacturing - more than SEK 25 million within a couple of years, according to Högberg. BT's current co-operation with Clark in Scandinavia and the UK will continue. Similarly, CESAB will continue to sell CESAB branded equipment through its existing dealers in Europe. 'Logical response' Christer Högberg concluded by calling the partnership between BT and CESAB "a logical response to customer needs." "As a customer service organization," he explains, "BT must be able to respond to changing needs, whether it be equipment or services such as rentals, maintenance, training or spare parts. Complementing our product range with counterbalance trucks is yet another expression of our efforts to fulfill that role." Christer Högberg, President BT Europe AB, will be pleased to answer questions via telephone +46-142-860 00. For general questions, please contact PR Manager Göran Skoglund at +46-142-864 09 or +46-70-555 92 88. This press release is also available on BT Industries' web site at www.bt-industries.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/03/23/19990323BIT00400/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/03/23/19990323BIT00400/bit0002.doc