HERALDHERALD MATERIAL HANDLING BALTIC

L a t v i a - L i t h u a n i a - E s t o n i a

TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING BALTIC 1

TMH Europe p. 3

TMH Baltic Top News p. 4

Toyota Material Handling News p. 5

Toyota Auto News p. 6

Interesting abouy material handling p. 7

Toyota solutions p. 7

TMH Lithuania News p. 8

Opinion p. 8

Hobby p. 9

Relax and jokes p. 11

Translations p. 12

Personal/current events p.14

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Dear employees of Toyota Material Handling Baltic!

I would like to wish you a happy 2009 and congratulate you on the first issue of our staff magazine. The first issue of our magazine is published at the beginning of a new year. In a way it is indicative of something – we usually start a new year by thinking of the new things it will bring, our wishes, hopes and goals for the year. Our magazine is a symbolic carrier of all that is new. Maybe it will help you fulfil your wishes and achieve your goals, get to know your colleagues and our company, and make you proud of your work and the place in which you work.It has been six months since I became the head of the three Baltic companies and I am pleased that we have reached mutual understanding and cooperation and that we are heading toward our goals together. Looking ahead, my wish would be to be able to seek and see only the positive things around us, appreciate what we have and enjoy the small things because what we often find small and trivial is a far and unreachable dream for others. Therefore, with the help of this magazine, in 2009 I would like to wish you all good health and strength, that you may enjoy your work, have mutual understanding at home and at work and, for us all, to successfully and efficiently proceed with our plans and achieve our goals.

Good luck!

Hans GehlenToyota Material handling Baltic managing director

Contents

TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING BALTIC

Toyota Material Handling Europe

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Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO)?Founded in 1926 to manufacture automatic looms?World Leader in materials handling industry since 2000, with more than 20% global market share?Ranked number 31 in FORTUNE Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies list (2008)?Ranked number 479 in FORTUNE Global 500 (2008)

?Employees (worldwide): more than 39,500?Net sales, FY 2008: €12.35 billion*?Chairman: Tadashi Ishikawa

Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG)?Formed in 2006 to integrate activities of Toyota Material Handling Company and BT Industries Group?Global market is divided into five regions: Europe, Japan, North America, International and China?Record deliveries of nearly 200,000 industrial trucks in calendar year 2007

Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE)

3 production centres:

?Formed in 2006 to integrate the European materials handling business of Toyota and BT?Active in more than 30 countries, with 400 sales and service centres and nearly 5,000 service engineers? About 8,800 employees, and a network of independent distributors and dealers?Net sales, FY 2008: €1.8 billion* ?Unit sales, FY 2008: more than 72,000 units ?European office functions in Ancenis (France), Bologna (Italy), Brussels (Belgium), Mjölby/Linköping (Sweden)?

?Ancenis: internal combustion (IC) and electric counterbalanced forklifts (including Toyota Tonero)?Bologna: IC and electric counterbalanced forklifts (including Toyota Traigo 24 and Toyota Traigo 48) ? Mjölby: powered warehouse trucks (including BT Levio, BT Staxio, BT Reflex), and hand pallet trucks?Chairman: Christer Högberg?Vice Chairman: Osamu Miura?President: Håkan Dahllöf ?Vice Presidents: Andrew Elliot (Executive Vice President Marketing), Hans van Leeuwen (VP Sales), Claes Palm (VP Human Resources), Håkan Schill (VP Supply), Suguru Nakano (VP Supply), Jonas Tornerefelt (VP Product Planning), Nick Duckworth (VP Logistics), Dick Löwendahl (Acting CFO)?TMHE Board: Christer Högberg (Chairman), Osamu Miura (Vice Chairman), Håkan Dahllöf, Tatsuo Matsuura, Shinya Furukawa

*Euro figures are provided for convenience only and are calculated from JPY at the rate of JPY 162.02 = EUR 1.00

The holiday season offers us time for reflection. It is a time to share with family and friends, reflect on the accomplishments of the year that is ending, and look ahead to the year to come. This holiday season is no exception. As we look back on 2008, we see many positive things. Most countries are now offering customers a full range of Toyota and BT products through one channel. We have also launched four excellent new product ranges – BT Levio, BT Staxio, Toyota Traigo 48 and BT Reflex. At the same time, 2008 will be remembered as the start of the financial crisis and the end of several years of steady growth in our industry. To be frank, the outlook for 2009 is very challenging. We expect to see a prolonged slowdown in many markets. It will probably be some time before we return to the sort of growth that we enjoyed over the past several years. These are very tough times. Each of us must do our part to contribute to the strength of our local, European and global organisations. We must 'take control' by cutting costs and eliminating waste. Every day we must make sure our activities support the frontline effort of securing our business and demonstrating to customers that we are their first choice partner in difficult times. Our message to the market is: "When times are tough, you can count on us." In conclusion, I would like to share a few words from Ted Toyoda, President of Toyota Industries Corporation, who says: "We can change risk into opportunity. Now is the time to show our relentless pursuit of excellence, strong leadership and our united strengths of all executives, managers and associates."I wish you a peaceful holiday season that leaves you refreshed and ready for the challenges of the coming year.

With best regards,Håkan Dahllöf, TMHE President

?Employees (materials handling division): more than 16,000?Net sales, FY 2008 (material handling division): €4,86 billion*?President: Tetsuro Toyoda

Toyota Material Handling Eirope Corporate factsheet

TMH Baltic Top News

Sales results2008

October %

Hand pallet trucks

Reachtrucks

Pallet trucks

Counterbalanced IC

Counterbalanced Electric

XXX XXX XXX XX %

XXX XXX XXX XX %

XXX XXX XXX XX %

XXX XXX XXX XX %

XXX XXX XXX XX %

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2008 November

2008 December

We are delighted to send you New Year's greetings in 2009 and the first issue of the HERALD, the new joint magazine of our companies, which are united under the name TOYOTA Material Handling Baltic. May it be snowing on the day you receive this magazine! May large, glimmering snowflakes be softly drifting from above. May everything around be bright and white, which always makes people smile more and have easy and pleasant thoughts. And may our magazine also always be bright and welcome and bring some light and whiteness into your life. May it be like a white, bright snowflake that cheers people at Christmas and brings them joy.In a way, every company lives its own life – it undergoes various processes, development and growth and then comes the moment when it has grown so large that we no longer know what is going on in the company, who works there, what is happening in similar companies throughout the world. And yet it would be interesting to read new and exciting facts about our company and other TOYOTA companies and find out more about our colleagues – perhaps, we share the same hobbies or interests, but have missed this fact in the daily bustle. And isn't it great that we can show our company magazine to our friends or relatives, tell them about our company and perhaps even boast a little about having been interviewed or had our story published in the magazine? It may seem small and trivial on the background of our daily problems, but you may agree that this small thing is a positive one. What do our lives consist of, after all? Of small things. However, it would be nicer if our lives were made up of pleasant small things. We hope HERALD will become one of them.This magazine will be published once every two months. It will contain the most interesting news of our companies and exciting facts about TOYOTA. We will also try to keep you informed about the achievements and results of our companies. You will also have the chance to learn about the latest TOYOTA company products, read interviews with many TOYOTA employees and tell others about yourself, voice your thoughts and opinions and take part in competitions.We will be delighted if you assist us in the making of the magazine – send in your proposals on the content and appearance of the magazine, as well as materials and photos that you think may be useful for the content of the magazine because we can make the magazine exciting and interesting only by working as a team.

TMH Baltic Service NewsTMH Lietuva Aidas Mickunas

Lietuva Albertas Gurskas Lietuva Algimantas Laurukenas Lietuva Andrej Baslyk Lietuva Andzej Vysockij Lietuva Arunas Pigaga Lietuva Ceslav Jankovskij Lietuva Darius Venskus Lietuva Jaroslav Romanovski Lietuva Leonardas Kulikauskas Lietuva Leonid Vasilasko Lietuva Remigijus Kuncius Lietuva Tadas Snarskis Lietuva Tomas Baronas Lietuva Vladas Petravicius Lietuva Vytautas Ceikauskas

Aleksander AidTMH Eesti Heiki RebasTMH Eesti Kaupo-Mait MittTMH Eesti Raivo VolkTMH Eesti Skripnikov Eduard

TMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMHTMH Eesti

Congratulation our

service engineers with

Toyota Material Handling

service engineer

BRONZE step!

Dear colleagues and readers of this new magazine!

TOYOTA Material Handling News

The new BT Reflex is our most advanced reach truck yet - 'i-reach'

Offering five models, with load capacities from 1.4 -2.5 tons, the BT Reflex range includes two new load capacities: 1.4 and 1.8 tons. With BT's exclusive tilting cab for added ergonomics, the BT Reflex is also available with cold store specification and with drive-in versions for use in narrow systems.

All trucks in the range have an advanced new transitional lift control system, which achieves high-speed - yet completely smooth - lifting and lowering. This advanced, intelligent design delivers significantly increased productivity and faster work cycles while supporting safe operations.

The new BT Reflex is built on a foundation of intelligence - intelligent design for maximum safety in operations, intelligent driving characteristics, and intelligent performance control for maximum productivity. We call this 'i-reach'.The new BT Reflex range has been developed based on intensive European customer research. The BT Reflex is designed around four core values: , , and - the values that reach truck customershave told us are most important to them.

safety productivity driveability durability

The new Toyota Traigo 48: Our most compact 48-volt truck yet

Toyota Traigo 48 is the all-new range of electric counterbalanced forklift trucks from Toyota Material Handling Europe. Available in 3-wheel and 4-wheel models, the new trucks offer load capacities from 1.5 ton to 2.0 tons to meet a wide range of applications and business needs. Toyota Traigo 48 has a fresh, modern design that gives its models a family 'look and feel' in line with Toyota Traigo 24-volt trucks and the new Toyota Tonero engine-powered range. All Traigo 48 models feature unique Toyota technologies, including the

and .The intuitive forklift that fits in the tightest spaces.The new Toyota Traigo 48 is the most compact Toyota 48-volt forklift yet. Agile and versatile, Traigo 48 provides optimum product fit even in compact spaces.

The new Toyota Traigo 48 trucks have been developed based on intensive European customer research, which identified the most important requirements for this type of truck. The Toyota Traigo 48 is based on 4 core values: , , and

.

With the cooperation of Toyota Material Handling

Toyota System of Active Stability (SAS) Toyota AC² power

safety productivity durabilitydriveability

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TOYOTA Auto News

Third-Generation Avensis

By late 2008, the Toyota Avensis had managed to prove its best qualities, convince many buyers and receive positive reviews. Toyota is therefore proud to present its European flagship vehicle – the third generation Avensis. Designed, engineered and built in Europe, the third generation Avensis features a more distinct and crispier design than its predecessor. Notable styling elements include the BMW-like Hoffmeister kink, the high beltline and the somewhat 'obtrusive' design of the vehicle's front-end. The interior styling on the other hand is more evolutionary as it echoes that of the current Avensis. New Avensis will be offered with three new petrol engines that are not only more powerful but also more frugal and less polluting than the outgoing units. Specifically, the Avensis' petrol engine range will comprise a 1.6-liter unit delivering 132 HP, a 1.8-liter engine with 147 HP and a 2.0-liter unit with 152 HP. The diesel engine range has remained unchanged and it includes a 2.0-liter D-4D with 126 HP and a 2.2-liter D-4D available with outputs of 156 and 177 HP.According to Toyota, the Avensis will also feature new safety specifications such as Steeringassist Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+), Adaptive Front Light System (AFS) and Pre-Crash Safety System (PCS).

The New iQ City-Car

The long-awaited Toyota iQ will also appear in 2009. Less than three metres in length, the iQ is not only the world's smallest premium car, but also a remarkable vehicle with CO2 emissions of only 99 g/km. Particularly important for a car of this size is the 360° protection offered by iQ to all occupants of the car. The high level of active and passive safety is ensured by the world's first air curtains installed behind the rear seats. The iQ is a symbol of individuality and quality, made to provide the characteristic city dynamics and refinement demanded by modern buyers. Production will commence in late 2008.

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Urban Cruiser, an All-Road City Model

Another introduction in 2009 will be the Urban Cruiser, Toyota's new city AWD all-road vehicle, equipped with 1.4 litre D-4D diesel engine. Thanks to the rich heritage of the successful SUV, it has an exceptionally solid outer structure and unparalleled safety features. Furthermore, with only 133 g/km of CO2 emission in its all-wheel drive version, the Urban Cruiser is an environmentally responsible SUV. The Urban Cruiser is to be launched in the first half of 2009 and it is expected to become a strong competitor in the future city all-road segment due to the strict carbon emission regulations.

Award-Winning Prius and Plug-in Hybrid Technology

The Toyota Prius continues to collect top awards in Europe; the latest one is first place in the JD Power award for customer satisfaction and, for the fifth year running, the award for Best Engine of the Year. The legendary status of this model is demonstrated by the sales figures: more than one million of these cars have been sold world wide and more than 100,000 have been sold in Europe.Toyota has undertaken to launch the Plug-in Hybrid before 2010. The Plug-in Hybrid represents the better of two areas – bringing together zero-emissions electric propulsion and unlimited freedom of movement.Yoshikazu Tanaka, the chief engineer of the Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, explains: "Just like the early hybrids by the Toyota Motor Company, the Toyota Plug-in Hybrid is also powered both by petrol engine and an electric motor. Yet, the Plug-in Hybrid is special because of its larger battery capacity, which increases the range of the electric motor, and the battery charge function, which allows the owner to charge the battery from an outside source using a household power grid."

With the cooporatio of Toyota Motorsn

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Interesting about material handling35 Years Without Trouble - Toyota 5LR Lift TruckWhile the average working-life of a forklift truck is about 15 years, Ball Tec Co., Ltd in Hikone city, Shiga prefecture Japan is still using the 5LR model Toyota Forklift Truck made in 1967. While giving an indication of how strong the 5LR is, in these times when environmental issues are important, it also reminds us of the importance of using a machine for a long period of time.

Established in 1976 as a subsidiary of Hirose Valve Industry Co., Ltd. (then Zex Machinery) Ball Tec is involved in the development of hydraulic ball valves. Hirose Valve Industry Co., Ltd. purchased the 5LR in 1968, with Ball Tec taking possession in 1976.

Managing Director of Hirose Valves, Mr. Isoshima is also the supervisor of the plant. He knows the workings of the 5LR since it's purchase well. "We fully operated the machine every day for the first eight years since Hirose Valves purchased it. I often operated the machine at that time also, using it to move 10-ton batches of valves, etc around the storeroom. It worked very hard."

“Since being taken over by Ball Tech it's use has been cut back to an hour a day. Even so, it's an extremely tough forklift truck that has never broken down in 35 years. Although we haven't done anything special to it in that time, I would say that the careful care and attention given to it by Toyota, including regular services, would be one reason for it's long life.”At the time the 5LR model attracted great attention, as it was equipped

with features far beyond those standard for other domestic forklift trucks, helping Toyoda Automatic Loom Works (now Toyota Industries Corporation) to top the domestic sales share.

"The changing times have brought great advances in forklift trucks. The basic features of the 5LR have made it almost obsolete compared with recent models. It is very easy to operate. Together Ball Tec and Hirose Valves employ some 150 people, with almost all of them having operated the 5LR. The machine has a special place in everyone's heart, including myself. I don't know how much longer we can continue to use it, but we will as long as it doesn't breakdown and cease operating."

The 5LR currently carries out all movement of heavy materials at the company. As when it was first bought, the expectations for hard work remain.

With the cooperation of Toyota Industries Corporation and Ball Tec Co. Ltd.

Toyota solutionsGPS at Toyota Lift saves fuelUse of global positioning system (GPS) technology on technician service trucks at three Toyota Lift of South Texas locations has produced fuel savings of 15% during June and July. The dealership operates 62 service trucks from its six US locations and has another facility in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Toyota Lift wanted a viable technology. "We used tracking systems years ago," but that Internet-based equipment was inadequate and unreliable, says Jack Parker, vice president of operations. As fuel prices skyrocketed in 2007, Toyota Lift installed cellular telephone technology for its service trucks, but jettisoned the system after six months. "That (technology) was a huge mistake," Parker tells Forkliftaction.com News.

A unit of Navman Wireless Holdings LP leases the basic fleet-tracking GPS system to Toyota Lift under a five-year commitment. "For tracking, navigation and messaging, the all-inclusive (per vehicle) cost is about USD2 per day for a five-year lease," says Gregg Steliga, director of sales and marketing for the subsidiary, Navman Wireless North America, in Glenview, Illinois. A three-year lease is also available. Navman dealer TJ Cooper, owner of Mobile Workforce Solutions in McKinney, Texas, sold the technology to Toyota Lift and installed systems in service trucks and Texas facilities in Pharr and Laredo in July, Corpus Christi and Austin in August and San Antonio in November. Service trucks in El Paso, Texas are scheduled to get systems in early 2009, Parker said. The service trucks in the Ciudad Juárez branch, which operates as Servicios de Montacargas de México CV, will not get the equipment.

“For Navman, Cooper installed Qube 2 fleet tracking hardware in each vehicle with the Navman M-Nav 650 integrated GPS navigation and messaging device," Steliga notes. The system allows a dispatcher to know the exact location of each service truck, its road speed and engine operating status. A dispatcher can direct a technician better and avoid assigning trucks to go unnecessary distances. An engine idling too long may prompt a call asking the technician to shut it off. Parker projects sales volumeS for Toyota Lift of South Texas may grow up to 5% this year from the 2007 level. That compares to earlier annual growth averaging 20%. He won't, however, reveal dollar amounts. Affiliates of parent firm Leslie Doggett Equipment Services Group oversee operations of San Antonio-based Toyota Lift of South Texas and a separately managed sister dealership, Toyota Lift of Houston, which has GPS technology from On-Board Communications Inc of Dallas, Texas and is reviewing its own use of the equipment. In Houston, "we have a Navman demonstrator on one of our (more than 40) vans, and we will probably go to Navman" after the upcoming expiration of a 24-month on-board contract, says Tim Kolajajck, vice president for operations. Toyota Lift of Houston employs 70 technicians at its single location. Navman is experiencing growth. In addition to Toyota Lift of South Texas, "we are working with a variety of other companies at this time", Steliga reports.

With the cooperation of Toyota Lift of South Texas Ltd. and Toyota Lift of Houston Ltd.

OpinionHow Can We Improve Sales?

Although Toyota Material Handling Baltic companies cannot complain about poor sales figures, we decided to listen to the opinion of experienced sales department managers on how to achieve and improve sales targets. Here is what M. Lutter (EE) un Aurimas Taraila (LT) told us.M. Lutter, TMH Estonia country manager and head of sales department (5 years trading experience in TMH Estonia). "As regards the sales of industrial loading equipment, the best results can be achieved by personal visits to each buyer. It is an opportunity to form closer, more personal contacts, which will play a crucial role in further events and our potential cooperation. The salesperson must understand that sales are not merely a process of selling things – it is a dialogue of mutual interest, wherein the salesman must find common preferences and understanding with the customer. Of course, the salesperson's primary target is to sell our products to the customer, yet any visit to the customer should be looked upon in a long-term perspective; a sale during the first visit is not essential – the customer should be interested in our company, shown that the development of his business is important to us and that we care and wish to help develop the customer's business. It cannot be denied that a major role in sales promotion is played by the PR and Marketing Departments, mostly in the form of exciting information on our equipment, interesting presentation items and souvenirs, as well as holiday

and customer birthday greetings. It all creates another reason to visit the customer and demonstrate that we are useful cooperation partners.Internal stimulation of our sales figures is achieved by our bonus system for equipment units sold. In addition to that, we occasionally organise competitions amongst our salespersons, which give them great motivation and arouse the spirit of competition and a matching result. An example is the event conceived late in 2008, 'Who will sell the last loader in 2008.'Aurimas Taraila, TMH Lithuania Country Manager and Head of the Sales Department (eight years trading experience in TMH Lithuania). "The main part of our sales representatives' work is direct contact with the customer – learning the customer's problems and searching for solutions. And it can be achieved only by paying personal visits to each customer. Regardless of the customer's size. This can be achieved by not just visiting the customer, but by keeping him informed of our offers and latest solutions and expressing continuous interest about the customer's business success. The information on current sales results is very useful in the sales promotion process, motivating our sales staff to improve the results, and, undoubtedly, the public information, especially that which is available online, about our services and the company.Working conditions also play an important role, as does the fact that the sales representatives must enjoy their work, so that they do not sell for the sake of selling or the money, but because they enjoy

this process with excitement and positive attitude. I can tell from my personal experience that such love for work, excitement and a positive attitude can help achieve really great sales results, as it is often a positive attitude and excitement that helps to find a common language with the customer. It is not a secret that every one of us likes to meet and communicate with positive, smiling and pleased people. As regards the working conditions, I think that we have succeeded in creating motivating conditions for our sales representatives and that they h a v e e v e r y c h a n c e t o c o n t i n u e t h e s u c c e s s f u l d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r c o m p a n y i n 2 0 0 9 . "

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TOYOTA Material Handling Lietuva News

Despite the economic recession in the Baltic States and around the world, which started affecting businesses in the last quarter of the previous year, the end of 2008 was very successful for UAB Toyota Material Handling Lithuania – the last few months of 2008 saw the conclusion of a large cooperation contract with Ermitazas Ltd. (the supply and installation of shelving systems worth almost EUR 900,000) and another large contract with Palink Ltd. on supplying equipment to a large logistics centre in Panevëþys (the supply of 85 units of equipment within two months and full service provision for three years).Aurimas Taraila, head of UAB TMH Lithuania says:"In regard to the contract concluded with Ltd. Palink, I would definitely like to praise the attitude and approach to this project by the Shelving Systems Sales Department Director Vytautas Šadauskas. Vytautas Šadauskas took on almost all the difficulties of the project and successfully brought it from the beginning to a very successful outcome, where a large role was played by well-prepared bids, specifications, the project agreement and provision of shelving supply and installation charts. A lot of support, of course, was provided by his Sales Department staff.As regards the Palink Ltd. project, our main advantage here was our teamwork. The key role in this project was played by perfectly balanced teamwork: the successful operation of TMH Baltic Managing Director Hans Gehlen and UAB TMH Lithuania Sales Department Manager Aurimas Taraila and his department, which ensured the delivery of 85 units of equipment within two months, as well as technical service maintenance solutions developed by the Service Department under the leadership of Darius Šilinis (service reaction times, maintenance and repair costs), including some innovative technical adaptations (e.g., special constructions for faster replacement of batteries).And I would like to add that, although we have mentioned only few of our employees, a great contribution to the successful outcome of both of these projects was made by all UAB TMH Lithuania employees and I would like to thank them for that."

Hobby

One of sections of our magazine will be devoted to HOBBIES, where our employees will tell their colleagues about their hobbies, things they do, their interests and efforts apart from work. That may not be just a hobby – it may something more serious: sports or art activities, pursuing goals, exploring something new. Why not tell your colleagues about them, so that we can get to know each other better. Or maybe we can find like minds and supporters, or just explore and learn something new. Why not?

To set an example and encourage others, the first person to tell about his hobbies is the editor of the magazine and HR and Marketing Department Manager Gints Rusins.

I have to say that I have two hobbies: sports and travel. As I have paid more attention to sports and it has always been more fascinating to me, and, since I have managed to combine the two hobbies in the last few years , this time we'll talk about my main hobby – sports. How sports are my hobby? Perhaps because I have always been goal-oriented – I like to set aims and then reach them.While reading this, some of my colleagues might smirk and think, what has Gints to do with sports, there are no signs of that. But it's true. And now (and for the last 15 years) it is motorsports. I would like to add that, before turning to motorsport, I was cycling for 14 years. I was included in the former Latvian SSR and USSR junior national teams, as awarded the category of USSR Sports Master, and visited many competitions and training camps, which gave me the chance to see other countries. That might be the reason why I like travelling so much. But now back to these days. As I have always been attracted by fast-paced and extreme things (it is probably due to constant lack of adrenaline, but adrenaline is like a drug – once you have tried it, you need more and more), in 1993 I started doing motorsport and took my first steps in amateur rallies. It actually was something very different from a real motorsport rally because in the amateur rally everyone drove their everyday cars and the emphasis was on correct calculation of the average speed with very few speed elements. I participated in these races without aiming high – I just liked this process and the exciting situations. Nevertheless, it was exciting and interesting and every month for almost three years in a row I took part in the Latvian Amateur Rally Car Championship, repaired my everyday car in between and enjoyed the wonderful weekends of each month. Following the first year in the amateur rallies, I also added proper car rallying to my activities and, after another year, I started participating in off-road rallying. And at one point, I was spending every weekend at some auto racing event. That made me think and narrow my options, because these things required resources and time and, as a result, I was spending weekends racing, working during the weekdays and preparing my car for next races in the evenings and

during nights – there was no time for anything else. Having thought things through, I kept with off-road racing because it was more extreme, exciting and a lot in this sport depends on your thinking ability, reactions and ability to adapt to extreme situations. But again, as a result of my eagerness, I found myself in a rather extreme situation, as for several years I was taking part in two types of off-road rallying: the so-called Trophy Raid, where the main emphasis is on conquering nearly impassable terrain and orientation, and Cross Country, where the goal is to cover difficult routes as quickly as possible (like in the famous Dakar Rally, for example). This was finally the chance to combine my two hobbies – sports and travelling, because taking part in such competitions gave me the chance to see new places and countries, see people and surroundings exactly the way they are, not as we see it on neatly arranged holiday tours. And there came the first goals that I wanted to achieve. In the beginning, they were more down-to-earth – win some races in Latvia – but gradually I started aiming higher and reached international levels of competition and took part in World Cup r a c e s . While doing this hobby

and striving towards my goals, I have travelled across the Baltics, driven around the Ladoga lake (10-day Trophy Raid race in Russia and Karelia Ladoga 2003), made my way from Vladivostok to Moscow by car (auto-expedition Vladivostok – Moscow), crossed the other part of Russia from St. Petersburg to Novorossiysk (12-day rally – raid Master Rallye 2002), crossed central and northern Finland (Trophy Raid Lapin Kulta Lapland 4x4 Trophy), visited Tunisia ( rally – raid Optic 2000) and the United Arab Emirates (rally – raid Desert Challenge). Speaking about achievements, I can say that I also reached my goals – there were wins and podium finishes in Latvian-scale races and abroad – several wins in Latvian and Baltic championships, first place in the international Trophy Raid Ladoga 2003, 18th place overall and 2nd in my class in the World Cup stage of Master Rallye 2002, title of Master of Sports of Latvia.

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HobbyBut I wouldn't like focusing only on the races I have mentioned, because, in this type of sport, every race is something special and unique, it provides you with fantastic life lessons and, sometimes, even survival. You learn to think a lot faster and more precisely, find a solution to every situation, work alone or in a team. For example, isn't it a good life lesson when you are somewhere deep in Russia's marshlands, it is five degrees above zero, you're soaking wet, the water reaches the roof of your car and there is no one within 40 km

who can help you, but you must find a way out and move on? Or, if you are in the African desert, it is +45 degrees, the water reserve is minimal and you have to repair your car to make it to the end or at least the next village, which is "only" 300 km away, and you know that outside assistance may come in a day or two, given that they can find you. I would say that there are no better lessons in life – you learn how to understand yourself and the others, use your power and abilities and gain brilliant experiences for the rest of your life. I can assure you that skills learned this way can be applied to every situation of our everyday lives. Yes, many say: nonsense! Why do you need that, it is a risk, a self-torture! It may seem so to onlookers, but the same could be said about many other hobbies, for example, rock climbing or ice fishing. We all are keen on what f a s c i n a t e s and excites us.Unfortunately, d u e t o i n c r e a s e d

amount of work and limited resources in the recent years, I have put active motorsport aside – at the moment I am more a passive observer, but, knowing myself, it is only a matter of time until I start racing again. Still, I have managed to take part in auto racing in the last year – thanks to a lucky coincidence I had the chance to combine the pleasant and the useful. I had planned a vacation and a trip to India, to the Himalayas, and shortly before the trip I found out that the cross-country Rally de Himalaya was taking place near my planned holiday destination. Of course, I couldn't resist – if I am there and something like that is happening, I had to take part in it. And it was quite successful. Thanks to the good connections of my trip organisers, we found an Indian sportsman who was looking for a companion and that was it – I took part in the race. So I managed to see the Indian

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Relax and Jokes

The Results of the "Staff Magazine Name" Contest.

Reader Contest

In early October, we announced a competition amongst our employees to find the best name for the staff magazine. Now it is time to announce the results. Unfortunately, participation was rather weak and the magazine name had to therefore be chosen by the Editorial Board. Nevertheless, each competition has results, and thus the Editorial Board would like to honour some of the contestants for their participation and creativity.Consolation prizes go to Danute Klaiva (LV) – for the largest number of proposed name options and to Eduards Berdjugins (EE) – for the shortest proposed name.

The contest will consist of six rounds with prizes for the winners of each round and a grand prize to the best three overall at the end of the year. The grand prize will be announced in one of the forthcoming editions of the magazine.Rating of the contest – each correct answer is worth one point.The winner is the person with the most points.

1. How many Toyota Way values are there and what are they?2. How many Toyota corporate philosophy key values are there and what are they?3. How many Toyota business management principles are there?4. How many companies form the Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO)?5. In what year did Toyota manufacture its first loader?6. What was the name of Toyota's founder and who is the current director of Toyota?7. In what year did BT manufacture the first pallet truck?8. What do SAS, TPS, TBC and OTC stand for?9. How many TMH products have dedicated websites?10. What unites the Toyota and BT brands?

Please send your answers to: with subject heading TMH Baltic Herald Contest.gints.rusins@baltic.toyota-industries.eu

Snow6 December. 6:00 PM. It started to snow. My wife and I sat at the window, drinking hot tea and witnessing the spectacular view out the window. Snowflakes fell slowly and gently on the trees, the ground, cars and covered everything in a white mantle of snow.8 December. We woke up and discovered that the entire world around us was covered in a bright sheet of snow. What a view! For the first time in my life, I took a snow shovel and cleared the yard and the driveway. And how I enjoyed that! Soon afterwards, a snowplough passed by and accidentally piled snow on the freshly-cleaned driveway. The driver smiled and waved to me. I waved back and cleared the road once more.10 December. 15 more centimetres of snow fell tonight. The temperature outside dropped to 11 degrees below zero. That's a proper winter! Some tree branches broke under the weight of snow. I was clearing the driveway and the snowplough passed by... and it did its "trick" again.12 December. The sun shone so nicely that it melted some of the snow. In the afternoon, the temperature dropped suddenly and everything turned to ice. While cleaning the snow, I fell and landed on my bottom. At the hospital, they took X-rays of all sides of me, but luckily I hadn't broken any bones. The weather forecast said snow was coming. I bought studded tires for my wife's car.14.December. 25 more centimetres of that damn white stuff fell during the night. The wife's car collided with the snowplough. The engine is dead. If the weather continues like this, the snow won't melt until August. The snowplough went by twice today.16 December. It is still snowing. Snowing all the time. Because of the snow, there isn't a single tree in the garden that has any branches left. There was no electricity for the most part of night. To avoid freezing to death, we burned candles and a blowtorch, which toppled over and nearly burnt the entire house down. I managed to put out the fire, but now I not only have blisters on my hands, but also second-degree burns. My eyebrows and eyelashes are scorched. On the way to the hospital, we totalled my SUV.18 December. The toilet froze up. If you are going outside, do not eat the dirty snow.20 December. That damned stuff is still falling and falling. If you don't want to freeze on your way to the mailbox, you have to put on the entire contents of your closet. If I catch that jerk who drives the snowplough, I promise I'll rip his throat and tear out his Adam's apple. I'm almost certain he waits around the corner so that he can come down the street at 130 km/h and pile snow on what was once my driveway.22 December. Still no electricity. Cockroaches in the house are beginning to die from the cold. The snowplough got stuck on the road and that jerk driver dared to come and ask if he could borrow my snow shovel. I kindly explained to him that I had broken five shovels already and wouldn't mind breaking the sixth one against his ugly face.24 December. Merry Christmas. It's snowing. The weather forecast predicts twenty more centimetres of snow in the next 24 hours.25 December. The weather people were wrong. There were thirty-five centimetres of snow. I must be turning snow-blind, because the wife appears rather pretty-looking to me. 26 December. The wife is leaving – perhaps forever. I can't feel my toes anymore. Haven't seen the sun for eternity. More snow expected tonight. Set the house on fire to avoid shovelling the snow from the roof.27 December. I was arrested for vandalism and for the vicious attack on the snowplough driver. My punishment: three weeks of snow shovelling at a retirement home..

11

Happy Birthday!

19.01. Emîls Freimanis (service engineer) Latvia21.01. Audrius Masiulis (sales representative) Lithuania24.01. Andrey Jugantsov (sales representative) Estonia30.01. Lauris Fedoreks (sales representative) Latvia31.01. Gunnar Mugu (driver) Estonia

07.02. Remigijus Kunèius (service engineer) Lithuania10.02. Inese Jeksevica (sales support) Latvia11.02. Heinar Must (service engineer) Estonia12.02. Giedrius Kërys (service engineer) Lithuania17.02. Nikolay Smirnov (Workshop coordinator/ mechanic tehnology) Latvia

Li Latvia

18.02. Jaroslav Romanovski (service engineer) Lithuania19.02. Kaspars Harchevins (service engineer) Latvia21.02 Cheslavs Grigorjevs (Parts support/ administrator) Latvia21.02. Lina Matulionienë (service administrator) Lithuania23.02. Ilona Pilka (accountant) Latvia23.02. Valdas Regelskis (service engineer) Lithuania

17.02. Evaldas Valentinavièius (service coordinator) thuania17.02. Arturs Kirma (service engineer)

January

Congrulations Ilona Pilka (TMH Latvia) with child born!

New employees

Vacations

Awards

Duntes 11, LV 1013, Riga, Latvia Phone +371 67 364 036 Fax +371 67 364 037 Email info@lv.toyota-industries.eu

TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING BALTIC

02.03. Arturas Simanavièius (sales representative) Lithuania03.03. Maris Milais (service engineer) Latvia05.03. Tomas Baltulis (racking department administrator) Lithuania09.03. Martins Gaitnieks (sales representative) Latvia11.03. Aleksander Aid (service engineer) Estonia

Li Latvia

16.03. Elina Jevsina (finance director) Latvia18.03. Arunas Pigaga (service engineer) Lithuania19.03 Andžej Vysockij (service engineer) Lithuania23.03. Aidas Mickunas (service engineer) Lithuania24.03. Svetlana Soonpuu (accountant) Estonia26.03. Darius Punis (service trainer) Lithuania

12.03. Algimantas Laurukënas (service engineer) thuania13.03. Sergejs Belouss (service engineer)

March

February