Growing container volumes push up forklift sales

The first of the Kalmar units arrived in the Port of Durban in December 2001 GROWING CONTAINER volumes are pushing up forklift sales, particularly in the Western Cape, according to Saficon Industrial Equipment, better known in the materials handling industry as Toyota Forklift, agents for Kalmar. Transnet subsidiary Viamax Fleet Solutions is currently hiring three empty container handlers from the company's heavy lift division to tide them over until the arrival in October this year of their new empty container handlers, capable of handling 6m and 12m empties. Straddle carriers to the value of 30m euro will be delivered to SA Port Operations by the end of this year by Kalmar in conjunction with its South African joint operation partner African National Engineering (ANE), a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) company. The first units arrived in Durban in December 2001 and the remaining machines will be progressively delivered during 2002. It's all part of Durban Container Terminal's R1.34 billion redevelopment and equipment replacement programme. As part of the S A Department of Trade and Industry's Industrial Participation (IP) programme, Kalmar and ANE will produce certain components for the straddle carriers in South Africa, sourced from BEE subcontractors. The IP programme also places great emphasis on training and the transfer of technology to previously disadvantaged individuals.