Kalmar Industries' Netherlands distributor, Peinemann-Kalmar, has delivered three 16-ton rental forklifts to Fundia Nedstaal steel rolling mill.

Peinemann-Kalmar managing director Ad Korney said his company would service all Fundia Nedstaal's mobile plant, including forklifts and terminal tractors, at the mill's existing workshop. The value of the contract was not released.

With the mill operating 24 hours a day, the new forklifts are expected to clock up at least 4,000 hours a year unloading steel slabs from vehicles and rail wagons and loading finished products.

"More and more companies in the Netherlands are realising the benefits of rental and service agreements where they are given a fixed price for keeping their equipment fleet operational," Mr Korney said.

Peinemann-Kalmar now has more than 2000 units in its rental fleet, including 1300 forklifts, 400 aerial platforms, 70 mobile cranes, 30 terminal tractors and about 100 Kalmar reachstackers and empty container handlers.