30th July 2010

When the temperature in which you have to work averages about -22°c you better have the best available equipment says Goscor Lift Truck Company’s (GLTC) Cape MD John Petrie. “It is for this reason that we’re very proud that the new state of the art cold storage facility Orion Cold Storage (OCS) chose two Crown forklifts for its Muizenberg, Cape Town facility,” he says.

OCS MD Patrick Gaertner, who has been planning this facility for more than 20 years, says that the low temperature environment is demanding on equipment and that the secret is good quality. “I have visited cold storage facilities all over the world and seen a wide range of forklifts and other equipment being put to the test,” he says, “and the Crown equipment met all the necessary criteria,” he says.

The two Crown machines supplied to Orion are: the Crown FC 4520 – 3.0, a standard electric counterbalance forklift with a capacity of 3000 kg, a lift height of 4570 mm and which can operate in an aisle of less than 3700 mm. It is fitted with non-marking tyres and can operate in cold store conditions as low as -30°c.

The second machine is the Crown RR 5795 S – 2.0 high-lift reach truck, which is designed to allow the operator the choice to sit or stand whilst working, can also operate in temperatures up to -30°c. This machine has a basic capacity of 2000 kg and can lift in excess of 1000 kg to a height of 9500 mm. It can operate in a 3000 mm aisle and uses a pantograph reach carriage to place pallets into mobile racking to maximise the available space in the warehouse.

“The manoeuvrability of these forklifts is an advantage in the warehouse as our space is designed extremely efficiently,” says Gaertner.

He adds that support and backup were very important factors in the overall equation. “Minimising downtime is one of our business-critical considerations and thoroughly professional backup service is expected,” he says

OCS has 30 years experience in meat, poultry and fish importing and distribution supplying leading retailers, caterers, wholesalers and manufacturers throughout Southern Africa.

GLTC is the sole provider of leading global forklift brands Crown, Doosan and Bendi in South Africa. Crown is the world leader in the manufacture of electric materials handling equipment. Its quality, engineering and reliability have allowed Crown to capture nearly 40% of the local market in warehousing equipment. Doosan provides Goscor’s internal combustion forklift and brings state-of-the-art, robust and well priced Korean machines to our market. Bendi supplies the world’s largest range of articulated forklift trucks for very narrow aisle applications. Goscor Lift Truck Company accounts for almost 40% of the Goscor Group revenue, and boasts major clients in warehousing, wholesale and retail sectors.