"Over 100,000 concrete blocks leave our site in Ashburton every week," says Richard Webb, Operations Manager at Glendinning. "Only two forklifts are used for this. That's why the reliability of the machines is crucial for us."

Glendinning was founded in 1958 and supplies its products to the construction and agricultural industries as well as private households and public authorities. The company is the largest independent supplier of quarry products and concrete products in Devon and Cornwall. The company recently purchased a new ^Hyster® H8XM6 with double block clamp. This is used to transport stone blocks from the production line to the storage area and stack them up to five high.

"The concrete blocks, which are usually 100 millimetres thick, leave our semi-automated production facility on a conveyor belt," explains Webb, who is responsible for a total of four sites. "We use two forklift trucks to transport the blocks onwards, which have to be ready to work day and night to keep up with production. They load up to 25 vehicles a day."

With the help of the double block clamp, Glendinning says it can fully load the trucks in less than five minutes and thus achieve outstanding throughput times. The company aims to offer its customers in the construction industry a high-quality service and to react quickly and efficiently in any situation. The ^Hyster® forklifts also contribute to this. "Our drivers had a say in the purchasing decision and were able to test different trucks," says Webb. "A key deciding factor was the hydraulic controls, which are very simple on the ^Hyster® trucks. The inching switches allow precise and effortless control of the attachment and load."

"Our drivers confirm time and time again that the H8XM6 is easy to drive. It is quiet and comfortable throughout the entire shift," says Webb. In addition, the cab protects the drivers in all weathers. Equally important for the choice of truck was the visibility - not only through the mast and over the double block clamp onto the load, but also all around. To ensure that drivers always have their surroundings in view, they can also use an optional reversing camera. The robust chassis of the ^Hyster® H8XM6 ensures high stability and a long service life. The Stage IV-compliant engines from Cummins have low fuel consumption and thus ensure low total cost of ownership. A demand-controlled cooling system, load-dependent hydraulics and idle mode also contribute to this.

Hyster forklifts prove themselves under tough conditions

"The truck has proven itself many times over under the tough operating conditions in our company. Availability is very high and we can rely on the machine," says Webb. "We also know how powerful ^Hyster® trucks are. We still use an H8.0FT from 2003 as a back-up truck and for peak workloads. After 15 years, it is still fully operational." Glendinning is supported in the maintenance of his fleet by the local Hyster dealer, who not only provides technical support, but also training and a spare parts service.