Flooded forklift businesses bounce back

News Story
- 20 Jan 2011 ( #497 ) - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2 min read
Komatsu Forklift Australia's branch in Sumner Park was awash.
Komatsu Forklift Australia's branch in Sumner Park was awash.
Last week's floods, which devastated 75% of Queensland, inevitably impacted on several local forklift businesses.

Among those badly affected was Rocklea-based Fork Force Australia, which lost forklifts, spare parts and workshop and office equipment.

Managing director Steve Cunliffe tells Forkliftaction.com News that dedicated staff have worked tirelessly for days on end to clean up and get the business back up and running. And with the help of staff, the company has managed to save a majority of its forklift rental fleet.
Fork Force Australia lost forklifts, spare parts and workshop and office equipment.
Fork Force Australia lost forklifts, spare parts and workshop and office equipment.


"We have re-opened for business and the hire fleet is fully operational and the service workshop is also back in operation. While we are not looking for handouts, we need local businesses to continue to support us with opportunities to service flood-damaged forklifts and opportunities to supply businesses with forklifts in their hour of need," he says.

Cunliffe acknowledges the many companies, in particular TVH Australasia and Adaptalift, that provided assistance.

"Now is the time for everyone to throw their support behind all flood-affected businesses to reduce the devastating impact in Queensland," he adds.

Komatsu Forklift Australia was another forklift company under siege last week.

Product manager Gary Hodge tells Forkliftaction.com News that the entire ground floor of the company's Sumner Park branch was under water.

He says some equipment was damaged, but this is now being salvaged or repaired.

"We are trying to help flood victims by providing forklifts on a casual hire basis to people in need."

He urges anyone with a forklift that had been flood damaged not to start it. "Rather, get Komatsu in to inspect. We continue to provide support to our forklift service customers through our field service technicians operating from our mobile service vans."

The company's Rockhampton and Townsville branches continue to operate.

Also affected by floods was Rapid Lift in Coopers Plains, which went under but is now back to business.

Rod Jackson of Lencrow Group used a kayak to survey the devastation.
Rod Jackson of Lencrow Group used a kayak to survey the devastation.
Rocklea-based Lencrow Group saw its workshop and factory flooded by over a metre of water, with staff having little time to move any equipment off site before the roads were cut off.

Manager Rod Jackson tells Forkliftaction.com News that around 80 units were affected with hydraulics full of water.

The clean-up operation has now begun.

Says Jackson: "We are going to get ourselves back on our feet quickly so we can get out and help our customers and anybody else that needs forklifts by having them sooner rather than later.

"We are only here to help people in this time of need and looking only to cover our cost. Our focus is to help the people of Brisbane through this horrendous time," he says. "Let's get Brisbane back on the map."
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