Background
The only general stevedoring and freight handling company at the Port of Dover, George Hammond PLC handles 300,000 pallets per year, and despatches, on average, approximately 70 road vehicles a day for UK and European distribution.
Typical cargo includes palletised bananas, pineapples and melons for brands such as
Delmonte, Compagnie Fruitière, Simba, Mack, Fyffes, Canavese, SH Pratt and Keelings and
leading supermarkets.
George Hammond has recently purchased a new fleet of Hyster Fortens LPG powered
forklift trucks.
How did Hyster Help?
- Provided tough dependable trucks, suitable for the demanding 24/7 operation
- Helped George Hammond reduce emissions from its materials handling fleet
- Delivered improved productivity and reduced maintenance costs
Equipment Summary
The Hyster equipment is required to transport the perishables from the quayside directly into ambient transit sheds aligned to the quayside before being loaded straight onto customer vehicles, or immediately transferred to the 5,500 pallet capacity temperature controlled store. The materials handling fleet, includes:
Benefits
- Emissions, which can speed up the ripening process of bananas, have been reduced thanks to the Hyster Fortens trucks. This is particularly important to George Hammond as the trucks are used inside the temperature controlled storage areas
- Reduced fuel consumption and resulting fuel costs are delivered by the LPG powered Hyster Fortens, which are also fitted with speed limiters that can also help drivers more easily maintain control when picking from the store and transporting to the loading bays
- Reliability is delivered by the durable and tough Hyster forklifts, which are maintained onsite by George Hammond engineers and supported by the local Hyster distribution partner to ensure George Hammond delivers a 24 hour flexible service
- Low cost of operation is achieved thanks to the electronically controlled DuraMatch transmission, which is featured on the Hyster Fortens trucks and enables even the most aggressive direction changes to be made smoothly, without using the brake pedal, and prolongs the lifetime of the clutch, brakes and tyres
- Maintenance requirements are kept to a minimum by the DuraMatch transmission, as the entire drivetrain is protected. The oil immersed brakes are virtually maintenance free and Michelin Pneumatic tyres help to reduce wear on the brick block flooring
