Toyota cuts the cost of forklifts

INCREASING DEMAND for affordable forklifts has motivated the launch by Toyota Forklift, Cape Town of a heavy lift division. "Due to import constraints, used forklifts cannot be brought into South Africa," regional sales manager, Cape Town, Mike Evans told FTW. "The ever escalating price of forklifts - R3,2m for a 45ton truck - has put increasing pressure on the container industry to find machines at an affordable price, especially when used on a light application." This is the niche which Toyota Forklift in Cape Town identified, rebuilding machines from 12 ton to 45 ton capacity. "It has proved to be highly successful," says Evans, "with three 16 tonners and a 26 ton, 32 ton and 45 ton machine having been sold in the last quarter of last year." Sales have not been confined to South Africa. Cross-border customers have also cottoned on to the benefits of rebuilt machines. A 45 ton reach stacker was recently sold to a Luanda buyer for R1,8m. "This is 55% of the price of a new machine, and we already have orders for another five in the next quarter," said Evans who is particularly enthused by the interest shown by neighbouring African states. "The hardest part of the continued success of the programme will be finding quality machines to refurbish and sell," he added. "But Toyota Forklift is fortunate that with its large fleet of rental machines a continual supply of large capacity machines is available."