3-ton forklift for special tasks
"The 5-ton trucks are used to transport timber," explained Rob Millatt. "The two new 3-tonne forklift trucks are used for special tasks, we use them to move palletized cement. We needed a 3-tonner with a lifting height of three meters but a total forklift weight of less than five tons. We had a lot of trouble finding suitable machines, but Acclaim Handling finally had a solution for us." Rob Millatt continues: "It was so difficult because transporting palletized cement presents particular challenges. We can't stack it that high and it's quite difficult to handle. That's why we invested in these new forklift trucks, as they meet our requirements exactly. The forklift trucks must also not exceed a certain weight, as we lift them into the ships with a crane. So these 3-ton trucks are perfect for the job." Scotline's forklift trucks are supplied by Purfleet Essex-based Hyundai dealer Acclaim. Scotline has been working with this partner since 2014. Rob Millatt explained: "In early 2014 we were looking to replace our ageing forklift fleet as the repair bills were getting higher and the machines were no longer cost effective. We spoke to Acclaim and found that their Hyundai forklift trucks would be a suitable replacement and were well suited to transporting timber packages. Initially we were only going to buy a couple of forklifts, but eventually we decided to order ten of the five-ton Hyundai forklifts to completely renew the fleet. We kept the size of our new fleet until last summer, but then we decided to order six more of the larger five-ton forklifts."

5-ton variant: Larger chassis for more stability
Rob Millatt then explained the difference between the new 5-tonne and the original machines: "The new machines have a seven-tonne chassis, but only have a lifting capacity of five tons and therefore a lighter counterweight. We don't need the actual weight, but we need the larger chassis for more stability when working on uneven ground. There is little competition on the market for this type of forklift truck. Only a few manufacturers produce forklift trucks with seven tons, especially with a 5-ton variant - only with a lower counterweight. As far as I know, there is virtually no competition. So Hyundai has a clear advantage here. The fuel consumption is also impressive, as you're not lugging around two tons of metal that you don't need." Rob Millatt comments: "We liked the fact that Acclaim has a local branch and that we would be dealing with professionals who are skilled in both sales and aftersales. It's rare these days to get technical support and always have the same contact person. Acclaim offers us consistency. Over the years we have built up a good relationship with them - we really like that. We now have 18 Hyundai machines between three and seven tons at two of our sites. We've also ordered a few more to be delivered later this year - the same 7-ton trucks with the 5-ton variant that we're getting in October this year. This will increase our fleet to 20 Hyundai machines." Scotline estimates that it has invested around £800,000 in the Hyundai brand and sees this as a long-term investment.

Comfortable equipment for drivers
"The main requirements for Scotline were reliability, ease of service and, of course, cost. We are also very happy with their overall performance," said Rob Millatt. "There is hardly any downtime and problems have mostly only been related to the sensors around the exhaust control. Probably the best features of the machines are the comfortable cabs, with optional air conditioning and radio. The basic functions are available everywhere these days. But it's the things that make life more pleasant for the drivers in their daily work on the forklift truck that make the difference." Rob Millatt comments: "When we introduced the Hyundai brand, the drivers were a little skeptical at first, as it was a new forklift from a manufacturer we hadn't dealt with before and with some new features such as an automatic handbrake. But they quickly got used to it and are now very happy with the forklifts." Rob Millatt summarized: "We have had virtually no problems with the service. It really makes a huge difference when we're dealing with people who know us and our forklifts, rather than having to call a call center and wait a week for someone to come by to fix a broken forklift. Acclaim is always there very quickly." Ian Taplin, National Sales Manager at Acclaim Handling, commented: "We pride ourselves on offering our customers consistency in our account management and service engineers, as well as comprehensive support. This, plus the proven reliability and minimal downtime of Hyundai forklifts, means we can supply blue chip companies like Scotline with confidence. We are proud of our ongoing good relationship with the company."

About HCEE
Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe is a market leader in the European construction equipment market. HCEE's range of heavy machinery such as hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, industrial forklifts, material handlers and skid steer loaders comprises more than 100 models. The company sells its own products through more than 140 specialist dealers in over 30 countries.