Barloworld Handling has supplied Sussex Port Forwarding with eight new Hyster Fortens H5.5FT diesel forklifts.

It was the size and capacity of Hyster's diesel forklifts that made the mainly timber-handling Sussex Port Forwarding continue its long working relationship with Hyster distributor Barloworld Handling.

"Space can be an issue at the port which is why we needed high capacity forklifts with a small footprint," says Ian Buchan, assistant port engineer.

Barloworld Handling has supplied the South Coast port based in Shoreham, United Kingdom with eight new Hyster Fortens H5.5FT diesel forklifts that have a high lift capacity and a small chassis with a 600mm (1.97 foot) load centre. The forklifts replaced some older units.

The new units are in addition to a fleet of 20 machines Barloworld supplied Sussex Port Forwarding to handle about 60 to 70 lorry movements a day.

"The Hyster Fortens design means operators can transport heavy loads of wood and still manoeuvre easily in the narrow aisles of the storage areas," Buchan says.

The Fortens range's features include the electronically controlled DuraMatch transmission featuring the Auto Deceleration System which slows the engine down when the acceleration pedal is released. Controlled Power Reversal allows smooth direction changes and reduces tyre wear.

The port operation handles mainly timber and receives between two to five ships a week, equating to about 250,000 tonnes of timber a year. Sussex Port Forwarding also receives bulk loads like ash, pumice and road aggregates. It primarily services the south east of England and is the only stevedoring operation on Shoreham Port.