Christmas tree wholesaler Frenchay Forestry depends on Linde Forklift Truck Hire this time of year.

Linde Material Handling (UK) has invested GBP2.9 million (USD4.6 million) into growing its forklift hire offer in the UK, including its heavy trucks fleet.

The company says the investment will further strengthen its claim to be the largest supplier of short-term hire trucks, now totalling more than10,000 machines across its UK network.

Linde claims it is the leading supplier of short-term hire materials handling equipment in the industry, with more than three times the amount of trucks available than its nearest UK competitor.

Mark Sullivan, head of used trucks and short-term rental at Linde (UK), says the addition to the already 10,000-strong fleet ensures the firm can provide customers with a complete range of equipment from a 1T powered pallet truck, to a container handling truck.

"This time of year is particularly busy for us as industries from all sectors require rental trucks to meet peak demands during the Christmas period," he says.

Bristol-based Christmas tree wholesaler Frenchay Forestry depends on Linde Forklift Truck Hire this time of year. Leading up to Christmas, the company hires two counterbalance trucks, which move about 40,000 palletised Christmas trees. The trees are delivered from growers and distributed to UK garden centres.

"Having the largest capability of trucks in the industry means we can react to situations where equipment is required at short notice and deliver a high-specification, bespoke solution to meet customers' needs, whether they are looking for extra capacity for a week or several months," Sullivan says.