Hyundai places first 16-tonne forklift into active duty in Australia, for moving company
February 5, 2010
Hyundai Forklifts Australia has placed its first 16-tonne forklift into active duty in Australia.
Transporter of household goods and personal effects, Movements International Movers (MIM), replaced an ageing CAT machine of similar capacity at its Sydney depot with the single 16-tonne Hyundai unit.
MIM Development Manager David McIntosh says two key points were critical in the company’s decision to buy a Hyundai to replace existing equipment to handle container transfer.
“The performance specifications were right and the price was brilliant compared to other options we saw on the market,” he says.
“The 16-tonne forklift came in at as much as 50 percent less in price than other brands without sacrificing anything in performance. This new unit has a capability that exceeds our current requirements – this is a key issue when handling containers.
“Our Sydney depot is a very tight yard so it was imperative we find a solution with the steering capacity to turn a tight circle. Other brands seemed to have a wider turning circle and the steering arm was tight and more difficult to operate.
Hyundai’s 16-tonne diesel meets the demands of docks and ports, the railway sector, heavy transport and logistics, manufacturing, mining and resources, container handling and general yard operators. It is one of several large diesel-powered Hyundai vehicles earmarked for the industrial market since Flexilift signed as an exclusive agent in Australia for the Korean company.
Apart from its huge handling capacity, the 16-tonne unit also has many ergonomic and safety features to meet the needs of operators and relevant workplace safety authorities in all types of working conditions, weather and terrain, according to Hyundai.
A unique wet disc brake system improves brake performance, the supplier says, by about 45 percent at a 20 degree slope. Maintenance intervals are also five times longer than conventional dry braking systems.
MIM has depots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The Sydney depot handles around 50-60 movements per day of fully loaded six-metre (20-foot) containers, each weighing an average of 6–7 tonne each.
The company performs both domestic and international freight movement. About 60 percent is international and domestic is 40 percent. New Zealand and UK are key areas of business. Currently, key sources of import are UK and South Africa.