Linde's Heavy Truck Division has secured a R30 million (USD2.87 million), six-year deal to supply 16 Linde container handlers to Viamax, a subsidiary of Transnet.

Beating strong international competition for the tender, Linde supplied two C360 36-tonne capacity, three-high laden container handlers, six H160/200 general purpose forklifts and eight C4230 empty and laden reach stackers with 42-tonne capacities. The contract was an outright purchase, though Linde technicians will service the machines at Viamax's City Deep and Rosslyn locations.

Viamax executive director Malcolm Yeomans said the Linde machines replaced existing Kalmar and Tantusi units.

"The new equipment will streamline Transnet's container handling operations and significantly enhance the organisation's efficiency, particularly the speed with which various tasks are conducted," he said.

Linde sales and marketing director Adrian Clayton said the new machines would join an existing fleet of Linde machines at the Port of Durban.

"We are delighted to be able to complement the existing Linde fleet with the latest container handling equipment, and look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with Viamax," he said.