Forklifts and materials handling equipment supplier Goscor Lift Truck Company (GLTC) offers companies short-term rental solutions for its equipment.

“The importance of flexibility cannot be reiterated enough, especially because of the tough operating conditions facing businesses across various industries. Short-term rental can be anything from a day to three years. “Amid the current uncertainty, owing to tough economic conditions, this flexible solution means that customers won’t be bound to five-year rental contracts. “They can terminate the rental agreement at any time,” explains GLTC national rental manager Tanya Brummer.

She adds that, if a company rents equipment with GLTC’s rental division on a short-term basis and the market deteriorates, the company is in a position to return the equipment to the supplier.

If a company wins projects or takes on new projects, it can hire more equipment to meet its immediate needs, without taking on greater risk and, during peak seasons, customers can easily and cost-effectively meet additional machinery needs.

Brummer says the type of equipment being hired on a short-term basis includes GLTC’s three- and four-wheel electric forklifts, reach truck forklifts and electric pallet jacks.

The company has a large stockholding of electrical machinery in its rental fleet. It has a national electric rental fleet of about 700 electric units.

Further, the short-term rental division comprises a large fleet of a variety of machines that speaks to the needs of different customer groups. The current fleet is 1 200 pieces of machinery, the majority of which is situated in Johannesburg. The range spans small electric pallet jacks through to 16 t diesel forklifts.

The full range includes the small WT electric pallet jack; 1.8 t to 3.5 t electric forklifts; specialised Bendi articulated forklift trucks as well as 1.8 t to 16 t diesel forklifts.

“We also offer reach truck forklifts from 1.4 t to 2 t with lifting heights from 6.5 m to 12.5 m. Gas-powered machines are also available from 1.8 t to 3.5 t sizes.

“Our range of equipment for short-term rental can meet all customer equipment requirements, giving them the convenience of dealing with a single supplier,” she says.

Brummer highlights that the company has one of the largest 11.5 t reach truck forklift fleets in the country. It can also assist mining and container industry customers with its bigger 8 t, 11 t and 16 t offering.

The machines are ideal to use for mining operations as they are robust, hard-wearing and durable.

“The rental division is represented in all the major economic hubs of the country, with branches in Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, East London, Cape Town and two multi-franchise branches in Port Elizabeth and Nelspruit.

“We also have our own roll-back trucks that deliver the forklifts to customers, thereby reducing turnaround times and increasing flexibility in terms of, for example, a customer requiring an early delivery or late collection,” she says.

Brummer notes that the company has seen an increase in the demand for equipment in the coal, platinum and gold industries in South Africa, especially as Covid-19 regulations have eased.

With companies moving more towards electric machines as an ecofriendly option when compared with petrol and diesel, and safety rules and regulations becoming stricter in terms of initiating the removal of the internal combustion equipment, customers renting forklifts tend to consciously choose the more environment-friendly options, she notes.

“Customer retention has always been our top priority. We have committed staff who bring a wealth of experience to the rental business. We are a solutions-driven team – we find a solution to every customer’s problem. We are also grateful to our loyal customers who have been instrumental to the growth of our business, even in the face of tough economic conditions,” Brummer concludes.