Industry is widespread throughout regional Victoria and it is one of the first areas where Flexilift Australia has appointed distributors for the Hyundai brand of forklifts.
L&P Mackin Forklifts in Shepparton and Forco in Ballarat will not only have exclusive area rights for the Hyundai range, they will also be responsible for the articulated Flexilift Narrow Aisle Truck and the Sellick range of forklifts for rugged terrain.
For Flexilift, which is still actively searching for high calibre distributors Australia-wide, these are very strategic appointments.
With much of its business centred on the fruit industry, dairy and general industry as well as light engineering shops within a 150km radius of Shepparton, L&P Mackin Forklifts is grateful to have such a strong brand to carry.
“A few years ago we were associated with Samsung forklifts until they stopped manufacturing,” said manager, Jarrod Mackin.
"So we needed to fill a void in the market and with a rather large cross-section of industry that we cover, we didn’t have very high level of quality in the equipment at an affordable price the regional operators.
"Hyundai has a very good level of quality and reliability in its forklifts yet they are more price-competitive than Japanese alternatives, so that is an extra option for our market.
Forco, headquartered in Ballarat, is overseeing a large part of western Victoria, Geelong and Melbourne west.
Heavy industry applications are the core of its business (particularly in the outskirts of Melbourne), so Hyundai offers it the ideal opportunity to sell a recognised brand.
Director of the company, Michael Galea, says the company benefits chiefly in two ways:
“Hyundai makes forklifts that are already in the heavy industrial fields and its brand is recognised for that,” said Mr Galea.
“Industry recognises Hyundai as an innovator but also meets the market’s call for a more affordable price structure.
“Until recently, we were tied with another recognised brand – its trucks were very affordable but they did have an older style technology.
“But Hyundai is actually cheaper in price than that previous brand yet quality-wise you get far more forklift for your money.
“Any equipment in which we deal has to be able to work and sustain the term of rental. Hyundai are strong trucks; for example, its 2.5 tonne forklift weighs about 4 tonne, therefore there is lots of strength in the steering and axles etc.”