The new Hyundai reach truck

Korean-headquartered Hyundai Heavy Industries, which considers the quality of its forklifts on par with Doosan, Hyster and Mitsubishi, has introduced its stand-on reach trucks to the European market.

It has launched five reach trucks to Europe, the HBR14-7, HBR15-7, HBR18-7, HBR20-7 and HBR25-7 models, ranging from 1.35 tonnes to 2.5 tonnes.

A Hyundai Industries Europe (HIE) statement said the forklifts had "a modern hydraulic system with a high-capacity pump that ensures rapid working and a powerful transport motor that provides excellent gradeability".

HIE marketing engineer Jan Coemans said the Korean-design reach trucks marked Hyundai's first step into the reach truck market but "we're already working on more Europeanised models".

"To be successful in the European market we need a reach truck with a seated operator position but will try to sell these reach trucks for end users who might find them interesting. Not all Europeans find a seat is necessary."

The forklifts were first launched in Korea in early 2006. They were released into the European market at the end of 2006 after a demand was identified.

Coemans said phone inquiries to dealers confirmed there would be interest in the machines.

"The big bang in the European market will have to wait for the Europeanised models. This is just an indication of our ambition to enter the market.

"We're still in the R&D phase but we're hoping 2008 will be the year" to introduce European models, he said.

In March 2006, HIE marketing manager Michel de Weert told Forkliftaction.com News that Hyundai was introducing a new sub-brand, Folex, for its forklift models. De Weert said Folex, which was "forklift excellent" abbreviated, would gradually be introduced into the market and a further abbreviation, FX, also might be introduced.

Coemans said Hyundai customers were getting acquainted with the Folex sub-brand but the company was not currently actively marketing the name.

"The basic thing for them is to get to know the Hyundai name before getting to know the Folex name."

The Busan, South Korea-manufactured reach trucks come with electric power steering and a slide-out box to house the battery.