20 years of mini straddle carriers

Australian container handling manufacturer Mobicon Mini Straddle Carriers recently celebrated 20 years of manufacturing, with managing director and founder of the company Tom Schults accepting a life time achievement award.
A low-key lunch was held for Mr Schults and the staff at the Mobicon Head Office in Brisbane, where he reflected on designing and selling his first Mobicon Mini Straddle Carrier to long-term client PH Transport back in 1997.
“Many of the challenges Mobicon faced back in the late 1990’s are pretty typical of what most ‘start-up’ companies have to overcome. However, I believe the growth and success of Mobicon Mini Straddle Carriers can be attributed to one major factor.
“We have always stayed true to our product, and concentrated on making Mini Straddle Carriers only. Over the years I have seen other machinery brands expand into all sorts of markets, where I have always believed in making only one type of machine – the Mini Straddle Carrier – and making the best one available on the market.”
Over the two decades since selling his first 2T Mobicon, Mr Schults also talked about the need to be innovative in design, and evolve and adapt along with the needs of clients.
Mr Schults said: “When we released the  Mobicon Top Frame in 2015, it was the first time we had developed a machine that could stack two high without the operator getting out of the cabin. The prototype for the Mobicon Top Frame, was a direct result of the feedback we were getting from our clients, that space was an issue and that going two high was the answer.
“Although 20-odd years seems like a long time to be running a business, I am still as excited today as I was back in the beginning. 2017 has been one of our busiest years so far, and with lots of exciting announcements set for 2018 I can’t see myself retiring any time soon.”
The Mobicon Systems brand is now recognised as the only mini straddle carrier around the world that will not break up the average industrial yard, which has positioned Mobicon as the one for many users.