Cheers to Shumani as it supplies 50 forklifts to Liquor Runners

FORKLIFTS Cheers to Shumani as it supplies 50 forklifts to Liquor Runners

Shumani Industrial Equipment has clinched a major contract to supply close to 50 forklifts to logistics service provider Liquor Runners for a leading beer producer in South Africa. This flagship contract is cementing Shumani’s presence in the food and beverage industry.

The 3.5-ton units are capable of handling two pallets at a time for maximum stacking and offloading efficiency. Shumani clinched the order late last year, with final delivery anticipated by the end of April, explains National Sales Manager Mathew Goby. The logistics service provider is also in the process of switching its client’s forklift fleet from lead-acid to lithium-ion batteries. This has necessitated driver familiarisation on the new units as they require opportunity charging. All the units are brand new, imported directly from the manufacturer, while Shumani has also secured a service and maintenance contract for the fleet. The logistics service provider is one of a range of major food and beverage clients that Shumani deals with, ensuring it has a formidable footprint in this growing sector. Designated as an essential service provider during the Covid-19 lockdown, it has played a vital role in ensuring that the food and beverage supply chain remains fully operational during this unprecedented time. Apart from warehousing solutions, Shumani also supplies cleaning equipment such as floor scrubbers, and even generators and compressors. This allows it to supply its customers with end-toend solutions for all their materials handling and ancillary requirements. Major brands include Doosan, Crown and Bendi. Whereas traditionally internal combustion engine units running on either gas or diesel were the preferred option, Goby reveals that two of Shumani’s major beverage clients are now standardising on electric units for the sustainability and efficiency benefits this offers. “Food and beverage is one of those industries always showing exponential growth, especially as new competitors are constantly entering the market with lowerpriced products. This means that the demand for quality materialshandling equipment is critical,” adds Goby. What continues to give Shumani the leading edge in this sector is its focus on offering unparalleled customer service. “If any of our forklifts are not running, it means downtime and lost productivity for our client. It is our main aim to ensure that all of our units are fully operational and optimised at all times.” One of the ways that Shumani ensures such a proactive response to any maintenance or service issues is via remote monitoring, which can redflag any issues that need attending to, and also provide critical information on both machine performance and driver behaviour.

Shumani Industrial Equipment,

+27 (0) 861 748 6264, +27 (0) 79 873 9163 vnemukula@shumani-industrial. co.za, www.shumani-industrial.co.za