CLARK Europe. Stefan Budweit, President and CEO

How has business been so far for you this year?

This year has started very well, it has been more positive than in 2023 for the CLARK Europe organisation.

Has your stand at LogiMAT been busy?

Yes. We moved from Hall 9 to Hall 10. We have the impression that there is a bigger audience in this hall and we feel more at home here.

What is CLARK highlighting at the show this year?

We are highlighting our new crossover series. Crossover means we have combined the advantages of IC trucks with that of electric trucks. The Raider and Renegade, as the L25-35XE and S25-35XE are called, for example, are mounted on the proven Clark chassis of IC engine-powered forklift trucks. This has the advantage that the crossover electric forklift trucks not only have the high ground clearance of IC trucks, but also the correspondingly larger and more robust tyres and greater legroom for the operator. This equips the vehicles perfectly for outdoor use – especially on uneven terrain or bumps.

How have the new trucks been accepted by visitors to the stand?

The vehicles were very well received by both visitors and our dealers. With these vehicles, we are appealing to operators who were previously sceptical about the performance of electric forklift trucks. With the Crossover models, we can not only offer electric forklift trucks that have the same performance data as combustion engines, but we also offer customers an environmentally friendly alternative to combustion engines.

Have clients requested the new crossover trucks?

Yes, it was a request from clients. They want to reduce their carbon footprint so they need trucks that can be used in outside operations. They would like to have all the advantages of an IC truck, the possibility to drive outside in muddy environments and wet weather conditions. It works as well outside as it does inside. And of course, it’s good for the environment because it’s electric.

We start from 2.5 tonne to 3.5 tonne with this crossover modification and in the future the next level will be 4 tonne to 8 tonne.

Do your trucks work in a cold warehouse environment?

Yes. We have the modification for cold storage operation.

How is CLARK looking for the future – are your research and development budgets up, down or steady?

Our R&D budgets are going up. We have global R&D operations and each market is different. The European market is different to the US market and to the Asian market. Some years ago, we organised the R&D design offices by regions. Each region has their own specification – America, Europe and Asia have completely different specifications.

How are CLARK embracing AI and automation?

We are using AI to improve safety. For example, we offer a camera system which reviews the area surrounding the truck and looks after the protection of people. Thanks to AI it can tell between people and objects – it knows if it’s looking at a human being or a hard object.

How is CLARK developing its sustainability programmes?

We want to make a change from the past to the future, especially if we look at the global company. We are now on the third generation of the family looking forward to the future, to be a stable company. Also, we are going back to our roots by moving our global headquarters from Korea back to the US. We moved out of the US in 2002 and now we are returning to a new HQ in Dallas.

How are you settling into your role at CLARK?

I have been at the company for 14 years. So, I had enough time to get to know the CLARK organisation well. In the past I was responsible for sales and marketing. Now I’m moving on to the next step, where I can also actively contribute to further expanding the company over the next 10 years. I’m enjoying it so far.

What do you want CLARK to achieve in the next 10 years?

We want to continue to grow. In Europe, we generally work with a dealer sales organisation. We have also established a direct sales organisation for the Duisburg area at our European headquarters. My aim is to expand direct sales in Duisburg even further. Since January 1 of this year, we have invested in personnel in this department in order to better serve the market.The post CLARK Europe. Stefan Budweit, President and CEO first appeared on Warehouse & Logistics News.