Operation cost reduction together with TMHGR 

Spyros Olympios, Managing Director of TMHGr

The reduction in consumer power due to the implementation of harsh measures, in combination with the worsening of the financial climate and the lack of liquidity, forced companies

Spyros Olympios     Managing Director of TMHGr

Especially in the industry of industrial trucks, the crisis is representative of the reduction in consumption. In particular, in 2008 there were 4.500 new industrial trucks in Greece, in 2009 they decreased to 1.800 and last year they further decreased to 1.050, reaching levels lower than the levels of 2000.

However, besides its negative results, the crisis provided companies with the opportunity and capability of a significant endoscopy.

But the type of market has changed and does not possess the same characteristics as it did in the previous decade. To begin with, it is absolutely necessary to reduce the functional cost while increasing productivity and adjusting to the new reality. We must not function only based on low functional costs but we must also consider safety and respect to the environment. Certain concepts, which during the previous decade we only found in the literature, such as environment, safety and workplace hygiene, now significantly determine competitiveness of the Supply Chain.

ΤMHGr cooperates with their clients and provides services and products that focus towards that direction.We are leaders where innovation is concerned, and our products and services aim in providing a total solution with great respect towards the environment.

For example, ΤΟΥΟΤΑ has innovated in Order Picking with the automation technologies that they implement in their industrial trucks and, in combination with hybrid storage systems, ΤΟΥΟΤΑ offers significant reduction in the transfer aisles, effective management of empty spaces with intensification of operations in connection with ΙΤ management systems.

For the past year, our company operates in new modern facilities and dynamically completes its range in the area of second-hand industrial trucks equipment, as well as rental programmes. Our second-hand equipment, covered in full by the ΤΟΥΟΤΑ warranty, which we call "pre-owned", change the conditions in the sensitive market area. Based on the Panhellenic after-sales service network, we offer unique support for second-hand industrial trucks. This has always been a weak point in the existing market of second-hand equipment which ΤΟΥΟΤΑ now covers with the same consistency as the market of new equipment.

Also SHORT-TERM RENTAL of industrial trucks offers our customers special coverage during periodical emergency situations and is the most indicated solution for low cost in comparison with the purchase of machinery.
All this can not be realized from one day to the next. High devotion to our principles with improvement (KAIZEN) of our procedures, training of our staff and implementation of KPIs (KEY PERFORMANCE INDEXES) in all our actions is required. It is clear what our market needs today. Flexibility, performance, reliability and constant devotion in a responsible effort to reduce costs.

In turn, we adjusted to the conditions of the market, increasing the market share in all our product lines, while maintaining the known quality of ΤΟΥΟΤΑ at high levels. With responsibility and respect to the environment, we are ready and totally capable of leading the material handling industry to the next level.

I believe that through utilization of pending European resources, as well as reinforcement of the banking system, there will be a slow but steady reverse of the climate. I would like to point out that in the middle of a crisis we had an increase in exports and tourist product. The geographical position of Greece, that is situated at the edge of the European Union has always been and will always be catalytic for transit trade.