There are times when companies can’t justify the outlay for new forklifts, writes the team at Linde, and that’s when certified used equipment may be the answer. It was for these two firms.
Electrical and plumbing wholesale business BGW Group bought its first Linde used forklift just over three years ago and has now equipped more than half of its 100-branch national network with similar trucks.
The group says it turned to the Linde Certified Pre-owned Program because, although business is brisk for two of its businesses — CNW Electrical Wholesale & Energy Solutions and Samios Plumbing Supplies — and forklifts are essential for day to day operations, their level of usage doesn’t justify investment in new equipment.
Though the forklifts are pre-owned, BGW says it receives all the benefits of new forklifts, including high levels of productivity, cost efficiency and low-emission IC engines.
“Our branches are essentially a warehousing operation and some are obviously busier than others, so individual forklifts might not get used every hour of every day, but when they are needed they have to be reliable,” BGW Group asset manager, Damian Purcell says.
“Before we began dealing with Linde we had purchased a wide range of used forklifts, but the consistency in the quality of the product just wasn’t there. Now when we require a used forklift Linde provides us with one which has just come out of its lease, which has been fully maintained by Linde and which has low hours.”
Purcell says the Linde team inspects the company’s buildings to get a good understanding of what its requirements are.
“It is important that we have someone in the forklift industry who really understands our needs, not just to buy used forklifts, but also to have them supported with after sales service,” he adds. “When I am providing a forklift for a new branch I get one opportunity to get it right for that site so it is important to me I supply a unit that presents new and is in peak condition as a 10-year solution.”
Light user, heavy lifter
Another case study is that of the WoodTech Group, a supplier of machinery for the woodworking, cabinetry and stone industries which spends little time using forklifts.
The company, which has branches in four states, saw a growth in the Sydney market late last year which prompted a move into larger premises. This, in turn, highlighted the need for the company to buy a larger forklift, WoodTech director Scott Hickey says.
“In general terms we needed a 5-tonne lifting capacity forklift fitted with long tines,” Hickey says. “Typically we might only use the forklift for one to two hours per week at a maximum. I wanted something reliable and presentable, but I wasn’t going to outlay up to $80,000 on a new forklift for that role.
“Linde’s range was very good and they had a compact 5-tonner available which not everyone can provide,” he adds.
“Linde made the whole process very easy. I knew that we were going to receive a used forklift which had undergone a complete factory refurbishment, but I hadn’t realised that also included a new paint job. It was delivered to us looking like a brand new forklift.”
Hickey says the maintenance intervals are longer with Linde forklifts, so he anticipates the company will spend less on maintenance over the working life of the forklift than it would with other brands.
Click here to find Linde forklifts for sale.