One of SMV Rental Ltd's new 16 tonne forklifts.

An independent UK distributor for SMV Konecranes wants to lift the esteem of heavy forklift customers with a new, specialised rental service that it claims is the country's first.

SMV UK has established SMV Rentals Ltd to offer a rental service dedicated to heavy forklifts with lift capacities of more than 10 tonnes. David Cooper, SMV UK managing director, said the company had invested in seven new 16 tonne machines, a "relatively new" 28 tonne forklift, and two used reach stackers to launch the service.

He said SMV Rentals would meet a currently unsatisfied demand in the UK.

"If you were a UK customer seeking a heavy machine to rent without long-term commitment you would struggle to find anyone with a suitable machine available. If you were lucky to find a supplier with availability, the machine is likely to be old, say 15 to 20 years old, uncomfortable to operate and with dirty smoke billowing from the exhaust.

"This area of the rental market has been a victim of 'buy cheap, rent expensive'."

Cooper said the new and "nearly new" machines were an attractive offer to customers.

"Would a customer prefer to drive a 15-year-old truck with stiff steering and dirty smoke or a new, modern machine for the same weekly rent?

"Reliability would be improved, drivers more productive, noise and emissions lower and customer esteem enhanced as a consequence."

Cooper said company policy dictated the fleet for rent would not be older than five years. Customers can rent machines from one week to an unlimited period. The new 16 tonne forklifts (SL16-1200B) are the latest B generation range SMV Konecranes, launched this year.

SMV UK was awarded top SMV Konecranes worldwide distributor for 2001 to 2004.