The latest from Toyota Material

LOWA LIGHTS UP WITH HELP FROM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS

Reliability and sustainability of Toyota forklifts help Lowa Lighting go from strength to strength.

Australian-owned lighting manufacturer Lowa Lighting has used the class-leading reliability and sustainability of Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) forklifts to help grow its thriving business.

Based in Sydney, Lowa Lighting was founded in 2010 and has steadily grown its business with a focus on sustainable products and business practices.

Starting out with a single forklift, Lowa Lighting now boasts a fleet of eight machines, including five Toyota 8FG gas forklifts, two Toyota 8FBE18 electric forklifts and a Toyota RRE140 electric reach truck.

Since its beginning, Lowa Lighting has relied on TMHA forklifts to ensure consistent and reliable warehouse operation, with the zero operating emissions of Toyota’s electric forklifts a major factor for Lowa Lighting.

Lowa Lighting National Sales Manager Anthony Galimi says the company would be looking to expand its premises in the future and will be getting in touch with TMHA national sales manager Michael Tsougranis to source more electric forklifts for its new facility.

“We’re looking to add more machines as we move premises, and we want to grow with Toyota, we want zero operating emission electric forklifts so I’ll sit down with Mick and look at ways we can improve our efficiency and increase our sustainability footprint,” Anthony says.

“With our forklifts going all-electric, they’re a good partner to have.”

It is no coincidence that Lowa Lighting has exclusively used TMHA forklifts since its inception, with the service of Mick’s team and the legendary reliability of Toyota forklifts both major reasons for the company’s extended patronage.

“I think what I like best about Toyota is the service, and the quality and reliability of the machinery,” Anthony says

“They don’t break down when you use them, and the service team and people behind the brand are really good.

The manoeuvrability and easy use of Toyota forklifts were also a big factor for Anthony, with the perfect forklift available for just about any use.

“The turning circle is tight, different sizes fit, they’ve got all different types to suit our needs,” he says. “They’re very adaptable.”

Mick Tsougranis says Lowa Lighting was likely initially attracted to TMHA due to Anthony’s family involvement in the Sydney Markets, where Toyota forklifts are abundant.

The strong relationship between Lowa Lighting and TMHA extends to a personal friendship between Anthony and Mick.

“If there’s any sort of problem he’s out here right away. If you need another machine, it’s no problem, he returns your call straight away.

“He’s a really nice guy, a top bloke. I’d recommend him to anybody, he’s very knowledgeable, I’m very happy to work with him.”

Lowa Lighting wants to purchase more battery-electric forklifts and move to a bigger premises because it wishes to increase local employment by bringing more of its manufacturing capability home to Australia. In coming years, it plans to accelerate its local manufacturing capabilities in Sydney, shifting production from China to bring jobs home and offer Australianmade products.

“We believe in our product, in Australian-made, it’s very important,” Anthony says.

Anthony started Lowa Lighting in 2010 with business partner Sal Maresca, starting out in Sal’s basement before moving to a small office in Baulkham Hills offering a single Australian-made down light.

Lowa acquired its first warehouse two years ago in Olympic Park, and now employs more than 30 people. ■

Lowa Lighting National Sales ManagerAnthony Galimi.

TMHA WELCOMES NEW APPRENTICES

Toyota Material Handling Australia’s Annual Apprentice Intake is a grassroots initiative fostering development of in-demand skills. MHD delves in to the 2022 intake.

Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) has welcomed one of its biggest crops of forklift technician apprentices in its 2022 Annual Apprentice Intake, with 15 new inductees brought into the program.

As ever, competition for spots in the Annual Apprentice Intake was extremely fierce, with the 15 apprentices chosen from a field of around 875 applicants.

The grassroots initiative fosters the development of in-demand skills that will provide the new forklift technician apprentices with valuable expertise, affording strong employment opportunities with plentiful room for growth within the company.

An induction ceremony on April 21 saw the 15 new apprentices attend accompanied by mentors from their respective TMHA branches, where they were welcomed by senior TMHA executives including president CEO Steve Takacs.

Held at the TMHA Customer Experience Centre in Moorebank, NSW, the meet-and-greet was followed by a safety overview, a presentation on Toyota history, values and expectations, and a tour of the headquarters.

After a lunch together, Steve then presented the new apprentices with their tools of the trade, marking a significant investment directly to the inductees.

Apprentices were invited to stay at the Rydges of Campbelltown hotel on the night of April 20, complete with a casual dinner with executives.

The 15 successful applicants will be distributed to TMHA branches across Australia – in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Albury, Launceston and Gladstone.

The four-year program now educates roughly 55 apprentices and has been successfully run by TMHA since 2007.

TMHA national manager - LEAN Management and After Sales Evaluation Cert, Gerry Larney, says the apprenticeship program was the perfect way to integrate new talent into the TMHA world.

“It’s really beneficial to our business,” Gerry says.

“We use the apprenticeship program to grow our skillset and forklift technician base – it’s been really successful for us.”

Gerry adds that the retention rate for TMHA apprentices was much higher than the national average, showing the success of the program.

TMHA apprentices sit 10-15 per cent above the national apprentice retention rate, helped in part by the large scope for growth within the company.

Gerry notes there are multiple avenues to career growth for apprentices, with many forging strong careers at TMHA.

“We have staff that started their apprenticeship at Toyota who are still with us 30 years later,” he says.

“And they’ve branched out into service managers, branch managers, sales managers. It’s a great career path within Toyota.

“There are almost no barriers to where they can go in the business. If they have the skillsets that add on to their technician qualifications, they can go anywhere.

“Our President and CEO Steve Takacs was a forklift technician in this business in the early 80s and worked his way all the way up.”

Even Gerry himself started as an apprentice forklift technician - albeit in his native Ireland - before climbing up the ladder to the leadership position he is currently in.

Apprentices receive thorough and well-rounded training with supervision from skilled mentors and are cycled through every aspect of the service business for a truly holistic learning experience.

Toyota has run the apprenticeship program in-house for the last 15 years, focusing on a safe work environment, while imparting the correct skills and knowledge to apprentices, while also supporting their TAFE schooling over a 4 year period. ■

TMHA has welcomed one of its biggest crops of forklift technician apprentices in its 2022 Annual Apprentice Intake, with 15 new inductees brought into the program.