Nissan Forklift LX Series

Forklift sales in South Africa have more than doubled since 2001, a materials handling company has found.

Truck manufacturer and forklift distributor Nissan Diesel South Africa (NDSA) is 80 per cent owned by Nissan Diesel Motor Company, in Japan, and 20 per cent by the Mitsui Corporation. It holds a 12.6 per cent share of the South African truck market. Late last year, NDSA began distributing forklifts, a Nissan statement said.

NDSA research & planning general manager Rory Schulz told Engineering News forklift and truck sales were linked.

"The forklift market is linked to the truck market. With the economy as good as it is at the moment, there is an increase in the tonnage being moved, which means more forklifts are being used to load and offload goods."

Schulz said forklift sales totalled 3,057 units in 2001. In 2004, 3,591 units were sold and, in 2006, the figure more than doubled to 6,803 units, an increase of 11.7 per cent on 2005 forklift sales of 5987.

He said 2007 sales could reach 7,890.

Last August, Nissan Forklift, a division of NDSA, was named exclusive distributor and marketer of Nissan forklift products in South Africa. They include diesel, petrol and LPG models, counterbalanced electric units, three-wheel electrics and electric reach trucks, and TO/ V02 series tow tractors. Since August, 86 forklifts have been sold, the statement said.

Nissan executive vice president operations Frans Cloete said the heavy truck distributor was keen to add forklifts to its business.

"We are a broad spectrum supplier of medium, heavy and extra-heavy commercial vehicle segments of the truck market, and now we have proudly added Nissan Forklift to our product offering. We will be working hard to enhance our service network nationwide," she said.

Schulz told Engineering News forklifts used in South Africa were fully imported and there were about 10 forklift importers in the country.

NDSA said it hoped to introduce forklift models such as reach trucks and pallet stackers into its operation.

The Nissan range was on show at the Auto Africa Expo 2006, held in Johannesburg in October/November last year.