Gough Forklifts, a division of Gough, Gough and Hamer Ltd, has been appointed sole materials handling supplier to P&O Cold Logistics in New Zealand.

More than 100 machines will be maintained across nine sites in an arrangement that will see Gough, Hyster's New Zealand distributor, supply and service mostly battery electric forklifts. The price was not released.

Gough, Hyster's New Zealand distributor since 1945, had experienced a sharp increase in growth and market share over the last three years, said general manager Ray Crocker.

The P&O contract comes after Gough last year won a contract to supply all materials handling equipment for New Zealand's rail service provider, Tranz Rail.