WhiteWave Foods Enlists PosiCharge™ for Environmentally Friendly Distribution Center
February 17 2009Toyota's Electric Lift Trucks and AeroVironment's PosiCharge Intelligent Fast Charging Technology Optimize Productivity, Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Feb. 17, 2009 - AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) announced that WhiteWave Foods Company today unveiled its updated, environmentally friendly distribution center that now features increased productivity and reduced energy solutions from AV's alliance with Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. (TMHU). AV and TMHU formed the alliance last year to offer a wide range of PosiCharge product solutions to reduce energy consumption and operating costs for their material handling customers.
WhiteWave Foods enlisted TMHU and AV to eliminate the time and space consuming conventional battery changing equipment that had been occupying 1,500-square-feet in its facility. The distribution center now operates new state-of-the-art electric Toyota lift trucks supported by AV's intelligent fast charging technology.
"By combining the leading AC motor technology with the leading fast charge technology, WhiteWave Foods now has a streamlined, efficient and more sustainable operation," Mike Bissonette, senior vice president and general manager, AV Efficient Energy Systems, and Brett Wood, president of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A, Inc. said in a joint statement. "Today's environmental concerns, along with initiatives to improve efficiency and increase productivity, make the alliance between Toyota and AV the perfect fit for companies like WhiteWave Foods."
"We are committed to making the environment in which our employees work safer and more efficient, and this distribution center is an example of our company's commitment to responsible, sustainable business practices," said James Ramsey, Logistics Manager-COI North, WhiteWave Foods. "The Toyota-AV alliance provided an excellent one-stop solution to achieve better productivity in a cleaner environment for our workforce and community, while maximizing the life of our equipment." Ramsey noted that the possibility of lead acid spillage has been reduced and that fewer batteries will be heading to local landfills because of the extended life cycle of the new batteries and the company's reduced battery inventory.
The distribution center now features 28 Toyota lift trucks and 25 PosiCharge(TM) intelligent fast chargers that have streamlined operations and eliminated the need for more than 28 conventional batteries formerly used for battery changing. PosiCharge systems are completely automated, hands-free fast chargers that require minimal training for electric industrial vehicle drivers. There are no settings to learn and no buttons to push, so training can be accomplished in minutes.
PosiCharge systems are now available through 68 authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers with 190 locations throughout the United States.
About WhiteWave Foods
Headquartered in Colorado, WhiteWave Foods manufactures innovative, authentic and nutritious branded food products and maintains a proud tradition of social and environmental responsibility. The company is the maker of Silk(R) Soymilk, the best-selling soymilk brand in the country, and Horizon Organic(R), whose milk - purchased from 475 certified organic dairy farms - is produced without the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones or pesticides. WhiteWave Foods also produces Rachel(R)'s yogurt, International Delight(R) coffee creamer, and LAND O LAKES(R) fluid and cultured dairy products. For more information, visit www.whitewavefoods.com.
About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A.
Celebrating over 40 years of operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) has been the number-one selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains popular due to its quality, reliability and durability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota's world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) in Columbus, Ind. Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM.
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About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. Commercial and government entities use AV's clean transportation solutions such as electric vehicle test systems and electric vehicle fast charge systems, as well as its clean energy solutions. More information about AV is available at www.avinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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AeroVironment, Inc.
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Mark Boyer
For AeroVironment, Inc.
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