Atlet is one of European paper supplier Antalis's forklift suppliers.

European paper supplier Antalis reviewed its forklift operations at the end of 2006 and introduced a competitive element to its forklift supply process by choosing two forklift suppliers for its UK sites.

One of the suppliers is Swedish warehouse equipment specialist Atlet AB that was recently acquired by Nissan Motor Co Ltd (Forkliftaction.com News #326).

Robert Potter, Antalis's central distribution and service manager, says among the suppliers, Atlet offered the "best fit" and suitable product and service at a good price.

In 2007 Atlet supplied 35 trucks for Antalis's central distribution centre at Interlink, almost half the total number currently on site. The fleet comprised low- and mid-level order pickers, powered pallet transporters and a customised battery changeover solution. An additional 36 trucks were supplied to other UK sites.

Most of the forklifts have been supplied on a seven-year lease but Atlet has allowed Antalis to change heavily used trucks like powered pallet transformers more frequently. Several items are supplied on secondary leases to provide additional temporary capacity and to allow procurement to be made according to business needs.

"Atlet provides value for money," says Potter. "They have been attentive to our needs on delivery schedules and supplied trucks at the precise times we stipulated."

Potter adds that Antalis is happy with the routine and scheduled maintenance tasks performed by Atlet and has not received any negative feedback from any of its sites.

When a piece of equipment is scheduled for renewal, Antalis approaches both potential suppliers asking for suggestions. When the forklifts in Scotland needed replacing, Antalis assumed both suppliers would propose a like-for-like switch for the low-level order pickers and pedestrian pallet transporters.

Atlet suggested powered pallet transporters to cover the entire operation to provide uniformity in terms of operations and service and hence lower overall costs.

"Atlet has been very creative in tailoring the fleet to our needs and challenging the existing solution," Potter says.

"In Scotland, Atlet was prepared to do itself out of some potential business by suggesting the solution that was best for us," he explains.

Antalis is a leading European supplier of communications material including print and office paper, visual communication, packaging & promotional products. The company has 19 sites in the UK including its 250,000 square foot (23,226m²) head office and central distribution centre at Interlink, Coalville, and facilities in Leeds, Livingston and Dartford.