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PRESS RELEASE
Specialty Material Handling is a Westland, Michigan based distributor of powered materialhandling equipment and specialty vehicles. The company was founded in 1989.
Specialty Material Handling represents Reedsburg, Wisconsin based Columbia Par Car, amanufacturer of high quality industrial and commercial vehicles. Part of the Nordic Group ofCompanies, Columbia is proud of over 60 years of success in the electric vehicle industry.
Columbia was one of the first American manufacturers to develop and market a NeighborhoodElectric Vehicle. Referred to as NEVs, these vehicles meet or exceed NHTSA standards makingthem legal for street use. a few of the items called for in the standards are hydraulic brakes, head,tail, back up, brake and license plate lights, rear and side view mirrors, emergency flashers, seatbelts and safety glass windshield w/ wiper. With a top speed of 25 mph, these vehicles can beoperated on public roads having a speed limit of 35 mph or less. They have a range, betweencharges, of approximately 40 miles. Based on local electric rates, charging the 48 Volt batterybank should cost less than one dollar. Comparing that to $4.00 per gallon gasoline, that's likegetting 160 miles on one gallon with zero vehicle produced emissions.
Kicking off their campaign to bring these vehicles to the Michigan market, Specialty currentlyhas Columbia NEV demonstrator vehicles for customer inspection and test driving at theirWestland facility. They are also offering on site demonstrations to qualified prospects throughoutthe state of Michigan.During my interview with Gregg Zdan, Specialty's vice president, he stated that in no way, shapeor form can these state of the art vehicles be considered "golf carts". My walk around and testdrive proved his point.
The Columbia Summit is designed primarily as a passenger vehicle. It can be configured with twoor four seats, with or without a cargo bed or lockable trunk. It can be equipped with hard doorswith sliding windows, a heater / defroster for cold weather use as well as a host of other options.
The Mega is designed as a light weight electric truck. It is available in drop side, van, dump or aflatbed configuration. Hard doors w/ roll up windows are standard. Many other popular options areavailable. The Mega's body styling tells us that it's roots are European. Like the Summit, it is alsoManufactured in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
According to Gregg Zdan, the target market for these vehicles spans the gamut frommunicipalities, educational and medical campuses, commercial and industrial concerns to privateindividuals. Potential uses for these efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles are to numerous tolist. Zdan further stated, "Anything that one can do with a small car or light truck can be done witha Columbia NEV, of course at 25mph or less."By Joe Haduck – Kcudah, LLC – www.kcudah.com For additional information contact:
Gregg Zdan, Vice President
Specialty Material Handling, Inc.
5838 Executive Drive
Westland, MI 48185
(734) 641-1800gzdan@flash.net www.specialtymaterialhandling.com
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