A VFG counterbalance forklift used at Sainsbury's

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's has put over 240 Jungheinrich forklifts to work at the Hams Hall distribution centre.

The contract was fulfilled over two phases, with some 152 trucks delivered in mid-2008 and a further 89 trucks becoming operational at the facility in October 2008.

Hams Hall provides both ambient and chilled storage, and serves Sainsbury's stores throughout the West Midlands.

Sainsbury's forklift fleet at the centre now includes Jungheinrich reach trucks, low-level order pickers, ride-on pallet trucks and models from Jungheinrich's new VFG range of hydrostatic engine counterbalance trucks.

The trucks have been provided on contract hire and, as part of the package, Jungheinrich service engineers will be permanently based at the site to ensure that operational efficiency is maximised.

Derek Boghurst, Sainsbury's material handling manager, says Sainsbury's relationship with Jungheinrich is not just based on the provision of equipment. "It's not just the quality of the trucks that convinced us to work with Jungheinrich," he says. "We require suppliers who work in partnership with us and have the flexibility to adapt to our ever-changing demands."