04 / Materials handling
Lift trucks bought outright, not rented for the life of the machine
Forklifts, reach trucks, stackers, telehandlers, conveyors and racking sourced direct. Most warehouses end up renting because the capital number looked frightening. At a landed price, owning the machine usually stops being the expensive option.
What we source in this line
Capacities below are the common bands. Tell us the load, the lift height and the surface it runs on and we'll size it properly — those three decide almost everything else.
| Equipment | Typical range | Worth specifying |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel forklifts | 1.5 – 10 t | Mast height, free lift, tyre type |
| LPG forklifts | 1.5 – 5 t | Cylinder mount, indoor emissions |
| Electric counterbalance | 1.5 – 5 t | Lead-acid vs lithium, charger phase |
| Reach trucks | 1.4 – 2.5 t | Lift height, aisle width, mast stages |
| Electric pallet trucks | 1.5 – 3 t | Pedestrian vs platform, fork length |
| Hand pallet jacks | 2 – 5 t | Fork width, quick lift, wheel material |
| Stackers | 1 – 2 t | Straddle legs, lift height, walk-behind |
| Order pickers | 1 – 1.5 t | Pick height, guardrails, platform |
| Telehandlers | 2.5 – 4 t | Reach, attachments, stabilisers |
| Scissor & boom lifts | 6 – 20 m | Indoor or rough terrain, drivable at height |
| Conveyors | Belt & roller | Width, incline, motor rating |
| Hoists & gantries | 0.5 – 10 t | Span, headroom, pendant vs remote |
| Pallet racking | Selective & cantilever | Beam load, upright height, bracing |
| Dock equipment | Levellers & seals | Capacity, pit vs edge mount |
Not on the list? Send a photo or a model number — most handling equipment in this class is available.
What actually decides whether the machine suits the site
Capacity is the number everyone quotes. These are the ones that decide whether it can physically do the work in your building.
Free lift is what gets you inside a container
Closed mast height decides whether the truck fits through your door and into a container; free lift decides how high the forks rise before the mast starts extending. A machine that lifts six metres in the yard can be useless inside a trailer. Tell us the lowest opening it has to pass under.
Match the tyre to the floor
Cushion tyres are for smooth indoor slabs and will beat themselves and the operator to pieces on a rough yard. Pneumatics handle broken surfaces but need more turning space. Getting this wrong is the most common reason an imported truck disappoints.
Electric indoors, diesel outdoors — mostly
Diesel exhaust in an enclosed warehouse is a ventilation problem and a health one. Electric solves it but needs charging infrastructure and the right phase. LPG sits in between. We will ask what the building is like before recommending either.
Side shift earns its money every single day
A side shift lets the operator line up on a pallet without repositioning the whole truck. It is cheap fitted at the factory and tedious to add later. Fork positioners, rotators and drum clamps are the same — decide now.
The machine is not the only thing that needs a licence
South African law requires lift truck operators to be trained and authorised to operate. That training is local, it is not expensive, and it is the first thing an inspector or an insurer asks about after an incident. Budget for it with the machine.
You're trading the dealer network for the price
That's the honest trade. No branded service contract comes with it. Budget for a relationship with a good forklift technician, and buy with that in mind — which is an argument for common engine and mast designs over unusual ones.
Warehouse managers ask these
Does buying actually beat renting?
Often, but not always — it depends on your hours and how long you keep it. Rental makes sense for short peaks and for machines you use occasionally. If a truck runs every shift for years, a landed purchase usually wins. Send us your current rental figure and we will show you the comparison honestly, including where it doesn't favour us.
Can my operators be licensed on it?
Yes. Operator training is done locally by an accredited provider and is machine-class based, not brand based — the certificate covers the type of truck, not the badge on it.
Will it load and unload our containers?
Only if the mast is specified for it. Container work needs a low closed height and good free lift, and often a shorter wheelbase. Tell us that containers are part of the job and we will spec the mast around it rather than leaving you to find out on delivery day.
What about batteries on the electric models?
The battery is a large part of the cost and the lifespan on an electric truck, so we specify it explicitly rather than burying it. Lithium costs more upfront and charges faster with less maintenance; lead-acid is cheaper and wants proper charging discipline. We will tell you which suits your shift pattern.
Tell us the load, not the model number
What you lift, how high, how often and on what surface — that's enough for us to come back with options, a landed price in Rand and a realistic delivery date.
- No obligation and no cost to quote
- Options at more than one build quality
- Landed price — duty, VAT and delivery included
- We reply within one working day