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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
FEBRUARY 2016
2
T
echnology has improved over time to
ensure that forklift trucks, winches,
cranes and all manner of materials
handling equipment operates safely. How-
ever, advanced technology of equipment
isn’t the only solution. The most critical area
of materials handling still requires know-
how when it comes to accurate selection,
operating and maintenance.
During economic hard times fleet managers
have several options when it comes to equip-
ment maintenance. One is to be extra diligent
in making sure preventative maintenance gets
done so they don’t have to pay extra for unex-
pected downtime. Another is to save the time
and cost required for periodic maintenance
and deal with issues as they occur, possibly
rely on underutilised equipment as back up for
replacement.
Cost saving exercises is the most popular
avenues that companies adopt when times
are tough and one of the ways used by many
companies is to partner with their equipment
supplier, especially if they can provide a full
service from financing to maintenance. The
fundamental business changes customers
experience through expansion, consolidation,
mergers and acquisitions, provide opportu-
nities for equipment suppliers to be creative
and innovative to remain linked to their cli-
ents. The goal is for materials handling com-
panies to help their clients to become more
productive using their equipment, their parts
and their services, specifically by suggesting
savings opportunities as they discover them
within their operation. These suggestions can
stretch from maintenance and operational im-
provements to facility changes, material flow
and operator education as well.
Financing flexibility is another key area, con-
sidering the economic insecurity many busi-
ness people still feel. Customers are looking
for more flexible options in acquiring equip-
ment other than straight purchases or the tra-
ditional leasing options.
Rather than straight rental it may be an op-
portunity for materials handling companies
to offer usage programmes with flexibility to
change or return equipment during the con-
tract period. Customers are looking more
towards access to materials handling ver-
sus ownership, which is a means towards a
healthier balance sheet and operational flex-
ibility.
Service is expanding beyond mere equip-
ment upkeep to ensuring the right equipment
is used for the application which is a major
factor in ensuring that the equipment is not
operated beyond its safety design criteria,
thus reducing unnecessary failures to the
equipment as a result and also extending its
economic life.
With the spectrum of service requirements
broadening, purchasing decisions are moving
further up the line to the CFO levels that are
no doubt looking at the short term benefits at
the right price.
Pierre Sanson, Editor
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