Toyota begins production of newest lift truck, marks 20 years of manufacturing in U.S.

Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc. (TIEM), the Indiana-based company responsible for manufacturing Toyota brand lift trucks, marked production of the new 8-Series, 4-wheel electric AC lift truck on August 3 with a line-off ceremony. The occasion, which also commemorated the manufacturing plant’s 20th anniversary, was attended by TIEM’s 600-plus associates.

Toyota has become the industry leader through unparalleled quality of engineering design, coupled with leading-edge manufacturing capabilities. In 1990, TIEM became the first Toyota lift truck manufacturing plant outside of Japan. Since the first lift truck rolled off the line 20 years ago, TIEM associates have built more than 350,000 lift trucks and Toyota has steadily penetrated the U.S. market to achieve the ranking of the No. 1 lift truck supplier since 2002. Today, more than 78 percent of all Toyota lift trucks sold in North America are produced at TIEM.

"Toyota prides itself on manufacturing products that embody industry leading safety, quality, durability and reliability," said Kazue Sasaki, president of TIEM. "During the last two decades, TIEM has achieved a number of manufacturing milestones thanks to the support of our customers, dealer body, associates and community. We look forward to another 20-plus years of manufacturing excellence in Indiana."

Expanding and Investing in the Community
When TIEM established its state-of-the-art, $60-million lift truck plant operations in 1990, the facility covered approximately seven acres under one roof. Since that time, TIEM has undergone 11 expansions. The campus now totals 998,000 square feet of facilities sitting on 126 acres. Representing an investment of $113 million, the campus includes a National Customer Center, training center, manufacturing operations, and distribution centers for equipment and service parts to meet the needs of Toyota’s customers. TIEM also donates regularly to local charities, in the areas of the youth education, the arts, human services and economic development.

The facility has the capability to manufacture a wide range of industrial equipment used in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments including: 3-wheel and 4-wheel electric lift trucks, internal combustion cushion tire and pneumatic tire lift trucks, diesel tow tractors and DC/AC inverter assemblies for the Toyota Tacoma.

TIEM-manufactured lift trucks have received a number of industry accolades including Toyota lift trucks being named number one in quality and value in an independent survey conducted by Reed Business Information for six consecutive years.

Environmental and Community Leadership
Toyota operates under a global earth charter that promotes environmental responsibility throughout the entire company. During the manufacturing process, TIEM analyzes and minimizes the environmental impact of every product at every stage of the production cycle – from design and development to raw material and parts procurement to manufacturing and product disposal.

In the pursuit of ‘kaizen’ or continuous improvement, TIEM has achieved a number of industry recognitions/certifications including: operating as a zero landfill facility, and recognition by the state of Indiana as a recipient of the 2009 and 2005 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for Five Years Continuous Improvement.

According to the most recent Governor’s Award, TIEM’s energy reduction program reduced electrical consumption by 2,218,444 kilowatt hours, or 12.3 percent; natural gas usage by 13.2 percent; and, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by 3,611.91 tons.

One portion of TIEM’s recognition included eliminating solid waste going to the landfill. This was achieved by utilizing a "Waste to Energy" facility to use its solid waste as fuels to generate steam in a local city for heating and production purposes. Another portion was the reduction of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in both paints and solvents through reformulation of the products.

TIEM complies with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and has been honored for its environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Proceeds resulting from TIEM’s material recycling programs are provided to local and national charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Toyota has further enhanced its commitment to responsible stewardship of the environment by partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation, a relationship the company established in 2006. As a result of the partnership, more than 57,000 trees have been planted in national forests and local parks including a portion in Lincoln Park and Noblitt Park in Columbus. Expanding upon Toyota’s work with the Arbor Day Foundation, more than one thousand seedlings have been distributed annually to TIEM associates, and throughout the local community.

About Toyota Material Handling USA Inc.
Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling USA Inc. (TMHU) has been the No. 1-selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002. In addition to the full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand, the company’s extended industrial equipment solutions include: Aichi aerial work lifts - scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts - Automated Guided Vehicles, and electric and diesel tow tractors.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.