CVS straddle carriers

CVS Ferrari has signed an agreement with Manitou to distribute its container handling equipment in South Africa.

The distribution agreement, signed last month, involves the selling, marketing and after-market support of equipment in South Africa, the countries on the border of South Africa and Angola and Zambia.

CVS Ferrari was considering opening a satellite company to handle distribution but decided to go with Manitou because of its experience in the South African market and industry.

Matteo Tosi, sales manager for CVS Ferrari, says the South African market is growing quickly and the company wanted to take advantage of the growth.

"CVS Ferrari had the choice of opening a local daughter company or picking a partner," he says, adding that the task of deciding which option to take was not easy. "It was not possible to establish a daughter company because of timing (it would have taken five years) and distance.

"And choosing a partner is not always easy because often the best are all gone, but with Manitou, it was different."

Tosi says CVS Ferrari chose Manitou because of the company's reputation and industry knowledge.

"In a highly competitive and highly qualified market like the one of container handling equipment, only a partnership with highly referenced distributors is going to last," he comments.

Tosi says Manitou is already a dealer for products not in competition with CVS Ferrari.

"Manitou's technical knowledge is similar and the finance capability matches with our requirements, so the choice was easy!" he says.

Lindsay Shankland, managing director of Manitou South Africa, says its infrastructure is focused on after-market support once a machine has been sold, which will benefit CVS Ferrari.

"Our dedication to servicing the customer once a machine has been purchased was a key factor in CVS Ferrari partnering with us," he says.

"And the fact that we have a broad-based black empowerment entity within our network (also factored in the decision)."

Manitou has kicked off the agreement with an order for 40 units valued at ZAR55 million (USD7 million).

Shankland says the range offered will meet all customer requirements and includes straddle carriers, container runners, tow tractors and forklifts.

"The high performer in the range is the empty-container handling masted forklift," he says. "It is able to operate in narrow terminals, performs end-on stacking, has good fork handling and has double stacking capabilities."