South African sorghum beer producer, United National Breweries (UNB), has taken delivery of 22 Hyster Fortens lift trucks from Barloworld Equipment Handling to assist in meeting the demands of its highly paced logistics and distribution operation.

The acquisition of the 2,5-t diesel Fortens lift trucks, to be used in production, packaging and distribution countrywide, followed the performance of eleven 2,5-t Hyster XM units delivered to UNB’s Egoli Brewery, in Langlaagte, in 2005.

“It is testament to the partnership that has been forged with Barloworld Equipment Handling,” says Egoli distribution manager Gitan Kantilal. More than half the company’s 125-strong forklift fleet is composed of Hysters.

With a shelf life of only four days in summer and up to six days in winter, sorghum beer is on the move the minute it leaves the last conveyor belt at UNB’s nine breweries around the country, says Barloworld. Still fermenting, the beer is transported to the company’s 86 depots, from where it gets distributed to con- sumer outlets within two days.

“Having quality materials handling equipment at our disposal is central to the success of our business, and we are highly dependent on having a supplier that delivers efficient uptime since we have no spare lift trucks and operate around the clock,” says Kantilal.

“Hyster forklifts are reliable and Barloworld Equipment Handling has shown that it can take the pace. I have been particularly impressed with its state-of-the-art call centre, a one-stop shop that gives Hyster the edge on the service side. When a call is logged, one knows for a fact it will be attended to promptly,” he comments.

UNB has entered into a five-year full maintenance rental contract with Barloworld Equipment Handling.

“This enables us to focus on our core business and ensures that our goods are being moved reliably,” explains Kantilal.

Extraordinary demands are placed on the UNB lift truck fleet, says Barloworld. At Egoli Brewery, for example, three Hyster units move seven-million litres of sorghum beer a month, working round the clock. Altogether, UNB annually produces and distributes 4,5-million hecto- litres of the beer.

The forklifts typically handle cages of 20- plastic drums and palletised 1- cartons. These are loaded onto trucks, which operate to a turnaround time of three to four hours, and, when they return, the empty cages and pallets are offloaded to be refilled. UNB decided to standardise on the 2,5-t Fortens, since it accommodates the varying load capability requirements at different breweries, says Barloworld.

Barloworld says that as sorghum beer is still fermenting while being loaded, spillage occurs, which can quickly turn into solidified malt. Though floors are hosed down regularly, this results in a challenging working environment for lift trucks and their operators, it says. With its electronically controlled transmission, which minimises wheel spin, the Hyster Fortens is particularly suited to the job, the company comments.

The ergonomics of the Fortens has also proven a hit among UNB lift truck operators, says Barloworld. Operating in a safely enclosed environment, with the gear lever on hand, they can focus on steering and handling product, which reduces operator fatigue and improves productivity, says Kantilal.

The new-generation Hyster Fortens range has made inroads into the local market, says Barloworld Equipment Handling’s Dean Lategan.