DHL LOOKS TO TCM TO STRENGTHEN ITS FAST, RELIABLE SERVICE
The recognised global market leader in its field, DHL has put the new model iNOMA forklifts – all supplied on a fleet management agreement with TCM’s Australian distributor, NTP Forklifts Australia – to work in three of its key Global Forwarding branches, where Handling Manager Derek Henry says the robust, hard-working machines have proved their worth since being introduced to the company during the second quarter of 2006.
All forklifts are 2.5- and three-tonne four-wheel counterbalance gas-powered machines, except for a seven-tonne and an eight-tonne forklift at DHL’s Air Freight Division at East Keilor and a battery electric forklift in the Perishables Division at Tullamarine.
"In December 2006 – and in no small measure due to the impact of the new TCM machines, our Global Forwarding operations moved a staggering 3,314 metric tonnes, with air exports accounting for a further 829 metric tonnes and air imports some 2,579 metric tonnes," said Mr Henry.
He added that a key feature here was the uniform instrument and control layouts across the TCM iNOMA range, which makes it easy for DHL Global Forwarding operators to move from machine to machine without having to acquaint themselves with new controls.
Mr Henry went on to say that the defining element for DHL was NTP Forklifts Australia’s exceptional commitment to customer satisfaction, evidenced by its cost-competitive fleet management package that included all service and maintenance components.
"NTP also customised the forklifts to meet our exacting needs, placing the gas canisters on the sides of some of the forklifts to give them better access to containers when loading and unloading.
"Moreover, of all the companies we considered, NTP was the only one to come out to the branches to familiarise themselves with the environments within which the machines would need to operate. The NTP team subsequently returned to conduct extensive on-site demonstrations.
"At the end of the day, the product was right, as was the price.
"But it went way beyond price... the people at NTP Forklifts Australia are approachable, they listen, they are flexible and we have developed a great business relationship with them over the past year," concluded Mr Henry.
DHL is the largest air freight company in Australia and employs some 326 people in its Global Forwarding Division.
NTP Forklifts Australia, in turn, has more than 25 years' experience in materials handling, with branches in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville and affiliates in Perth, Hobart and Darwin.
NTP Forklifts Australia offers a complete range of materials handling equipment, including TCM industrial forklifts, Manitou rough terrain forklifts and telescopic handlers, Taylor-Dunn goods and personnel carriers and Manilec warehousing equipment.
The company specialises in sales, service, rental, fleet management and parts. It employs 230 people nationally, has six service workshops, over 50 mobile service vans for quick on-site repairs and maintenance and carries an A$2-million parts inventory, with counter sales and despatch in every state.