One of Pacific National's new RS 46-41 XLS models

Hyster has been selected as the successful bidder by Australia's Pacific National for a 31-unit big truck deal.

Pacific National, one of Australia's largest rail companies, has ordered 21 Hyster reachstackers, five masted container handlers and five heavy-duty forklifts.

The value of the order has not been disclosed.

Hyster, along with one of its dealers, Adaptalift, worked with Pacific National to evaluate each site across Australia (Perth, Melbourne, Moolabin, Townsville, Adelaide and Sydney), where the trucks would be deployed in rail terminals moving containers, trailers and steel coils.

"A good analysis of each site's application, together with the detailed tender document, allowed us to provide tailored solutions for each site, meeting Pacific National's diverse requirements," says Jan-Willem van den Brand, manager of the Big Truck Application Centre for Hyster.

"The tender focused on total cost of ownership, ergonomics and safety," he says.

"With system and option enhancements on the equipment, Pacific National was seeking to achieve safety, customer and performance benefits in line with its company values," according to Andrew Adam, general manager, national intermodal for Pacific National. "While at Hyster's factory in Nijmegen, Pacific National staff witnessed first-hand the alignment of these company values that supported our safety motto - to ensure that operators, customers and all facility users return 'home safely every day'."

Since Pacific National's various rail sites handle different types of loads, ranging from high-top containers with round roofs to curtain containers with bottom pick points, the company needed solutions that were adaptable. To meet these requirements, Hyster will provide customised reachstackers that allow operators to easily swap between a standard container spreader to a piggy-back spreader, enabling quick response to changing operational demands of loads and helping to optimise fleet usage.

In the company's Melbourne steel handling location, a Hyster RS46-41XLS model will be equipped with a tool changer so it can switch between a c-hook for coil handling and a spreader for container handling.

The Hyster big trucks that will be deployed at Pacific National's various Australian locations will feature modular designs helping to minimise the variation of parts needed to support the trucks, making servicing and operator training easier. All customised options chosen are also designed using similar components, having a positive impact on uptime and cost of ownership.

All trucks will be fully serviced by Adaptalift Hyster, the nationwide dealer for Hyster in Australia.