While there's been some small relief for the road transport and logistics industries with a slackening off of some input costs such as those associated with fuel, 2009 holds significant challenges.
The industry has gained something of an edge with more efficient vehicles and improved technologies in trailer and equipment builds, however margins have not grown, therefore operators have to seek further 'pockets of efficiency'. The pursuit of such pockets applies to many facets of transport operation.
While capital expenditure for equipment will have constraints in the immediate future, the equipment distributor Pathway, a division of GoldAcres, has a solution for canny truck and logistics operators.
GoldAcres is well-known in the higher-end of agriculture as a supplier of advanced technology sprayer equipment to the farming community. The solution offered by Pathway is the Maximal forklift range, a newly introduced line-up of handling equipment,According to Bruce McIntosh, Manager of Pathway, this new brand of forklifts is now available in Australia and its very competitive price promises to deliver excellent value for money.
He explained, "The Maximal forklift range, which is manufactured in China, includes electric, diesel, LPG and petrol-powered variants with lifting capacities ranging from less that 1 tonne through to 7 tonnes, and they are all manufactured from components that are featured in a host of well-proven heavy-duty equipment brands.
"Many of the components for Maximal forklifts are sourced from Europe, Japan and the United States and feature brand names that will be very familiar to most industrial, transport and logistics operators.
"These include Cascade forks, TCM Technology transmissions, and diesel engines from Isuzu, Yanmar and Perkins alongside Nissan and Mitsubishi petrol and LPG engines."
He continued, "For example, one forklift in the Maximal 'M-Series', with a four-cylinder 44 kilowatt Nissan petrol engine and Powershift transmission, has a rated capacity of 3,000 kilograms, a lift height of three metres and a 'self-weight' of 4,310 kilograms, while the mast tilt angle is six degrees forward with 12 to the rear. It also has a fuel tank capacity of 70 litres."
Bruce McIntosh explained, "The Maximal Forklift Company currently builds more than 5,000 forklifts annually, and their commitment to the use of quality components plus their well-accepted competitive labour cost situation will make the brand popular with budget-conscious buyers.
"In these challenging times, even for the most well-managed transport or logistics operation, capital expenditure for equipment is cause for serious consideration. Maximal offers a solution for good quality yard equipment.
"A range of optional accessories is also available,ensuring that a forklift can be provided to suit most applications in small or large industrial, transport and logistics enterprises."
He added, "This new range of forklifts is supported by the three-point Pathway Quality Guarantee that commences with a fastidious quality assurance program during manufacture. Added to this is the extensive product-testing regime, both in the factory and here in Australia.
"At Pathway we carry a comprehensive inventory of parts for product support and, of great importance, we offer a 12 month or 1,000 hour warranty," Bruce McIntosh concluded.
