The Big Joe WRT60 with 48" forks and a 510 AH Industrial battery

Lombard, Illinois (November 29, 2011) - Big Joe AC Series rider pallet trucks were officially launched today with the introduction of the new Big Joe WRT60.  Immediately available for sale throughout North America, the WRT60 is the first in a new line of end control riders designed to deliver high performance and low operating costs.

The WRT60 offers a carrying capacity of 6,000lbs., and with a large 24 volt AC drive motor can deliver travel speeds of 9 miles per hour.  While the performance of the new truck will improve user productivity relative to competitors, it is the simple durable design philosophy of Big Joe that sets the truck apart.  The Big Joe unit while not being overly feature laden, outfitted with the latest best of breed non-proprietary components all housed in a heavy gauge unitized steel frame.  A combination that the company hopes will resonate with large equipment users seeking to reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability.

The WRT60 is available in several configurations including fork lengths ranging from 36” to 96” and with options related to load handling, order picking and coast control.  Standard equipment includes a large microcellular rubber operator platform, premium Stellana Vulkollan® load wheels, a heavy duty Comer transmission, and a ZAPI AC0E controller offering dozens of programmable drive settings.

In early 2012, the new Big Joe WRT60 will be showcased at the MODEX Exposition (BOOTH #2405) to be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from February 6-9^th.  At the show, the new rider truck will be on display along side several other recent additions to the growing Big Joe product offering.

Big Joe is one of the world’s most well known brands of electric forklifts.  Big Joe equipment has built a strong reputation for over 60 years on a design philosophy focused on simplicity and durability to deliver superior value.  Managed by Big Lift LLC of Lombard, Illinois, the company will launch several additional models in 2012 in a continuing expansion of their product line.

For more information on the new Big Joe WRT60 or other Big Joe brand equipment:

Visit www.bigjoeforklifts.com
or contact Bill Pedriana, Director of Sales & Marketing at (630)916-2600

The PDS30 can handle up to 3,000lb. loads and features a highly efficient AC drive system, two speed hydraulics, 224AH AGM maintenance-free battery pack, and can plugged into a standard 110v outlet to recharge. Available options include: cold-conditioning, a mast guard, various fork lengths, and (5) mast configurations with maximum lift heights ranging from 105” to 157” and collapsed heights as low as 71”.

The PDS30 features several productivity enhancements including a multifunction tiller, high visibility mast, and compact tight turning chassis, while computerized real time monitoring of the units drive motor and two-speed hydraulics deliver precision operator control. The Big Joe PDS30 is an easy to operate lift truck that gets tasks done quickly and reduces the potential for vehicle, rack or product damage.

With one of the strongest forklift dealer and service networks throughout North America, Big Joe brand equipment provides low operating cost material handling solutions anchored by quality products and industry leading customer service.

To learn more about the new Big Joe PDS30 Electric Walkie Straddle Stacker, visit: http://www.bigjoeforklifts.com/stacker_trucks_PDS30.html

About Big Joe brand forklifts

Big Joe® brand walk behind forklifts have been a mainstay in warehouses and factories in North America for over 60 years. Known for their simple high quality designs and low cost of operation, Big Joe is distributed by one of the strongest dealer and service networks in North America. Managed by Big Lift LLC of Illinois, the company maintains a factory in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and internationally as part of a joint venture with EP Equipment Co. LTD.

For more information on Big Joe electric forklifts visit: http://www.bigjoeforklifts.com

The Big Joe WPT45-S has been specifically engineered to handle 48” long GMA (Grocery Manufacturers’ Association) pallets in the smallest area possible. A desirable performance characteristic for logistics operations wanting to reduce unload times and maximize trailer volumes. The WPT45-S features short 45.5” forks, a narrow 8” battery compartment, and corresponding shorter overall wheelbase to enhance maneuverability. While able to carry up to 4,500lbs, the WPT45-S can deposit loads sideways inside a standard 2.6 meter box trailer.

For operations that involve moving product in and out of refrigerated warehouses, an optional “cold storage” package has also been introduced on WPT45 series pallet trucks. The thermostatically controlled heaters included in this package keep sensitive electronics and bearings warm thereby reducing the potential for condensation damage that can occur when transiting between environments of differing temperature.

For heavy users such as transportation hubs, all Big Joe WPT45 series pallet trucks can now be outfitted with a new AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) maintenance free battery pack. This 224 AH pack improves vehicle run-time by more than 20% and includes an integral charger that can plug into any standard 110v outlet. As compared to the Gel type batteries that many manufacturers provide, AGM batteries are more resistant to the vibrations that go along with heavy dock use, reducing long term operating costs and enhancing reliability in such applications.

Big Joe WPT45 series pallet trucks were introduced in the spring of 2010. Incorporating an AC drive motor and controller technology, the product has been a best seller since release. Big Joe WPT45 pallet trucks are readily available throughout North America from over 20 stocking locations, and carry a list price of $4,500 for a base model including battery and charger.
About Big Joe

Big Joe is one of the world’s most well known brands of walk behind forklifts. Big Joe equipment has built a strong reputation for over 50 years on a simple design philosophy featuring quality, utility and value. Managed by Big Lift LLC of Lombard, Illinois, the company plans to launch several new models in 2011 to expand their growing product offering. For more information, visit www.bigjoeforklifts.com

The Big Lift LLC / EP Group recently announced the successful launch of their new AC powered Big Joe forklift models the PDS-20 and PDS-25. The new products represent the first of up to sixteen new electric forklifts planned to be released by the company over the next few years. Featuring heavy duty I-beam mast construction and enhanced ergonomics the PDS walk behind forklifts are well suited for a wide variety of material handling and work positioning tasks.

“From the start, these new vehicles have been designed to be easy to use and maintain while incorporating the latest in electrical technologies,” explains Bill Pedriana, the Director of Sales for Big Lift LLC. “Reliability, durability, and productivity are all crucial in this competitive category of industrial trucks. With the PDS we wanted to not only deliver a rugged truck like those the Big Joe brand is known for, but use technology in order to provide the best price-to-performance value in our industry.”

The PDS trucks with AC drive motors, deliver longer run time, faster operating speeds and more flexibility than previous models – all at a lower price. With these characteristics the company hopes to draw the attention of large box retailers and manufacturers alike looking to reduce costs and ramp-up productivity.

While capable of quick performance the PDS-20 and PDS-25 can also navigate exceptionally well in tight areas due to a “creep speed” feature that allows for precise handling. This gives operators a significant amount of control which enhances safety and reduces potential for product damage during operation. Additional productivity advantages come in the form of power efficiency and programmability. Powered by either four maintenance-free, 6 volt gel batteries or an industrial 12-85-7 battery, the PDS trucks offer a duty cycle some 40% longer than their predecessors. Add to that the ability to adjust all of the trucks functions through the use of an available handset, and the PDS can be tailored to a specific use or user to maximize the trucks fitness for the task at hand.

The new Big Joe PDS are now available for order through Big Joe dealers throughout the United States and start at a retail list price of $8,100 for a base unit with 130” of vertical lift. Additional options include various battery and mast configurations, with a 189” three-stage mast planned for later this year.

The Big Lift LLC / EP Group is one of the fastest growing organizations in the industrial truck and materials handling sector. Jointly marketing and distributing the Big Joe brand of industrial forklifts, the group manages a nationwide dealer network from facilities in Lombard, Illinois and Inman, South Carolina.

4-22-2010 – Lombard, IL

Big Lift LLC and E-P Equipment USA have entered into a strategic partnership to exclusively distribute the Big Joe brand of forklifts throughout North America. In a statement, the companies say Big Lift LLC and E-P Equipment USA will consolidate sales and marketing efforts, align dealer networks and launch a new line of equipment.

The first new Big Joe product to be launched, the WPT45 AC powered pallet truck, will be introduced on May 3rd at the MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Dealers of America) Convention in Marco Island, Florida. Later this year, an additional six models will also be launched, with a wide variety of class 1, 2 and 3 industrial trucks to follow.

In a joint statement sent to staff, Dan Rosskamm, president of Big Lift LLC, and Daryl Kidd, general manager of E-P Equipment USA, say the new partnership is “a great opportunity for both companies to build on the strong reputation of Big Joe and set a foundation for sustained growth together”.

Headquartered in Illinois and with a factory in Wisconsin, Big Lift LLC manufactures and distributes the Big Joe brand of electric-powered forklifts through a network of over 200 dealers. Big Joe forklifts have been a mainstay in factories and warehouses across the United States since 1950.

Headquartered in South Carolina, E-P Equipment USA is a subsidiary of E-P Equipment Co. LTD which manufactures and distributes a broad selection of materials handling equipment and forklifts internationally. E-P Equipment Co. LTD recently completed construction of a new state-of-the-art production facility in Hangzhou, China capable of manufacturing up to 10,000 electric forklifts annually.

For more information on Big Joe forklifts visit http://www.bigjoeforklifts.com
A New line of Big Joe forklifts will be launched starting in May of 2010

A New line of Big Joe forklifts will be launched starting in May of 2010

For more information or media inquiries please contact:

Big Lift LLC – Director of Sales and Marketing – Bill Pedriana (630) 916-2600 or via e-mail at bpedriana@biglift.net

E-P Equipment USA – Ken Cox (864) 472-2776 or via e-mail at kenc@epequipmentusa.com

“This new line of forklifts will surprise people” explains Kevin Pletch, Dealer Sales Manager at Big Lift LLC – which manages the Big Joe brand and factory. “These trucks maintain the rugged construction that our brand is known for at a price that is hard to beat.” The launch of the Big Joe Basic Series includes the S30 walk behind straddle truck, the C22 walk behind counterbalanced truck, the M22 manual stacker, and two electric pallet trucks; the PTE30 and PTE45 designed for medium duty applications.

In addition to developing this new truck series, the management team at Big Lift LLC. also unveiled today a new distribution program that will maintain factory stock of Basic Series products across the country at several regional locations. “With our newly improved distribution footprint and product availability we are changing how we do business”, says Bill Pedriana, Director of Sales and Marketing for the company. “Our distributors have asked us to reinvent ourselves to combat low price competitors that have flooded the market in recent years, and with this product line we are now proving that we have heard their call.” To continue to meet the needs of the brand’s traditional base of heavy duty industrial users, Big Joe’s core line-up of rugged walk behind or “walkie” forklifts will continue to be built at the Big Joe factory in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Big Joe electric walk behind forklifts have been a mainstay in North American factories and warehouses for over 50 years. Owned by Big Lift LLC of Lombard Illinois, the Big Joe brand of industrial vehicles, which can be viewed at www.bigjoeforklifts.com are widely known for their ease of use, stout construction and low operating costs.

Please address press-related inquiries to:
Bill Pedriana – Director of Sales & Marketing
Big Lift LLC – 1060 Garfield Street – Lombard Illinois 60148
Phone:(630)916-2600 x262, Fax(630)916-0657
bpedriana@biglift.net

http://www.bigjoeforklifts.com

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