In rebounding from major hurricane damage, a cold storage company now operates 33 Yale-brand electric forklifts that it obtained in June through dealership Briggs Equipment.

With 18 units for indoor use and 15 for outdoor applications, New Orleans Cold Storage & Warehousing Co Ltd is fully operational at its new Henry Clay Wharf location at the Port of New Orleans.

The Yale forklifts have lifting capacities of 4,000-6,000 lb. (1,814-2,722 kg). Twenty-eight of the forklifts are electric sitdown units, and five are ESC-model stand-up, three-wheel electric rider forklifts.

On 19 July, the cold storage company opened a newly constructed 142,000 sqft. (13,192 sqm) warehouse at the port.

The facility has capabilities for blast freezing, handling, warehousing and stevedoring of export poultry and beef products. Hurricane Katrina reached south-east Louisiana as a Category 3 storm on 29 August 2005, causing severe destruction.

New Orleans Cold Storage operates through multiple locations in New Orleans; LaPorte, Texas; and Charleston, South Carolina.

"The warehouse was constructed to be environmentally sound and energy efficient," says Paul Pressler, manager of the New Orleans branch for Briggs Equipment. "That's why our innovative, eco- friendly electric forklifts are a perfect match for the facility."

Mike Winemiller, president of Briggs International Inc of Dallas, Texas says: "This is a new chapter for New Orleans Cold Storage, the port and the city. We are proud to partner with this legendary company and this facility to help put New Orleans back on the map as a worldwide player in the cold storage industry."

Briggs International, including Briggs Equipment units in the US, Mexico and the United Kingdom, is among the largest members of Sammons Enterprises Inc, a diversified holding company.

In a 1 May dealership transition, Briggs Equipment US and Carolina Tractor & Equipment Co's LiftOne division became authorised dealers of Hyster forklifts in south-east and mid-central US markets, succeeding a unit of Sandton, South Africa-based Barloworld Ltd.

Yale and Hyster are brands of the Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc. Parent company Nacco Industries Inc is divesting the entity with indications that Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc will be the future identity for a publicly traded business.