Setting new lift truck warranty standards

With its newly-introduced 5-year warranty on its Doosan 7 Series range, Goscor Lift Truck Company is setting new standards in the South African materials handling industry. The extended warranty is a true indicator of the extent of trust in the Korean product, as well as a sign of commitment to servicing customers for the long haul.

In a ground-breaking development, Goscor Lift Truck Company has rolled out an industry first, standard 5-year warranty on its Doosan 7 Series range of lift trucks. The new offering is the longest ever warranty to be offered in the South African forklift industry.

Patrick Barber, Sales Director at GLTC, says warranty is a valuable component of any capital equipment purchase, especially mission critical and big-ticket purchases such as lift trucks. “It assures equipment users that their funds are being spent on a trustworthy product and the supplier is committed to the health of the equipment for the long haul,” he says.

“The pertinent reasoning behind the extended warranty is the fact that the initial capital investment on these machines is very high. Therefore, to retain the value on the product, the warranty is a significant component of the product lifecycle,” says Barber.

While different lift trucks from different manufacturers may have different price tags, the length of warranties has largely remained the same for years, pegged at 12 months, which is an industry norm. GLTC’s new warranty is thus a game changer in the industry, driven by the company’s understanding that the longer and more comprehensive the warranty is, the lower the overall potential cost of ownership for owners.

“We have been supporting the Doosan product since 1994 and have come to trust the build quality of this Koren product. We have worked closely with our principal, Doosan, to develop a product that meets our local operating conditions and support it with a fitting warranty that gives customers the peace of mind they need, especially in these difficult operating conditions,” says Barber.

Barber also reasons that the extended warranty is a sign of service commitment from GLTC as the exclusive distributor of Doosan’s range of lift trucks in the southern African market. “The initiative is in the best interests of the end user. A longer product warranty gives customers extra coverage for their mission-critical assets, along with a little more peace of mind. From a supplier point of view, it means that we want to be there for our customers, and be involved in their businesses with a vested interest,” explains Barber.

Best combination

Barber says GLTC has in recent years worked closely with the OEM to bring the best combination lift truck in terms of engines and the drivetrain, among other crucial components. The result is a product that speaks directly to the local market’s needs.

Therefore, the Doosan 7-Series forklift range is a product that ticks all the right boxes, from maximum productivity to cost-effective and safe operation across an array of applications – attributes that are high up on every warehouse or distribution centre manager’s checklist when evaluating and selecting materials handling equipment.

For example, the new Doosan 7 Series, launched locally last year, is powered by a Yanmar 3.3-litre diesel engine that works in harmony with the transmission to offer the best fuel efficiency. The in-line, 4-cylinder, water-cooled, overhead valve engine provides high torque (191 Nm) at low engine speeds (1 600 rpm) in applications requiring ramp loading and unloading, fast lift speeds and heavy hydraulic flow. The high torque at low engine speeds translates into reduced fuel consumption.

The range also speaks directly to durability and reliability. For example, the Powershift Transmission precisely modulates clutch oil pressure for smooth forward and reverse directional changes, thereby preventing damage to the transmission and make the forklift more durable.

“These features, coupled with a long warranty, mean that if services are done according to OEM specifications and standards, the machines will definitely give owners a longer lifespan, while retaining the value of the investment,” says Barber.

Transformation matters

Apart from the warranty, another key development is that GLTC has just become the only importer of capital goods in South Africa to attain a Level 3 B-BBEE status, effective March 2019. Barber says this is a proud moment for the company, which speaks to its transformational attitude.

To get a Level 3 status, a business has to score between 90 and 95 on the BEE scorecard. This is measured on all five elements on the BEE scorecard, including ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier development and socio-economic development.

“For such a big organisation, attaining a Level 3 B-BBEE status means that we have covered a lot of ground with regards to our transformational goals. We have done a lot when it comes to employ equity, enterprise development initiatives and corporate social investment, among other initiatives,” says Barber.

GLTC has also invested heavily in skills development. “Skills shortage has become one of the most common enemies to economic development, not only in South Africa, but across the globe. It is a problem that hinders both business and economic growth. Therefore, forward-thinking businesses should play an active role in skills development, and GLTC has done a lot in that regard,” says Darryl Shafto, MD of GLTC.

Following the establishment of its merSETA accredited Training Centre last, the company is now armed with a facility that allows it to build a pool of technical skills that it needs to better support its customers.

“The Training Centre offers an NQF Level 3 qualification. It operates nationally, accommodating both new trainees and existing GLTC employees from around the country on an annual basis,” says Shafto.

“Our B-BBEE rating can offer huge benefits to other companies that do business with us. Benefits of being compliant include the ability to actively participate within the preferential procurement policy of government, qualifying to tender for contracts with governmental bodies and a competitive edge over other competitors in the industry,” concludes Barber.