In 2012 the South Coast based mirror manufacturer SMR Automotive Mirrors UK Ltd replaced their entire materials handling fleet with Hyundai Lift Trucks supplied by the Chichester based Hyundai lift truck importer Eurotrucks Direct (South) Ltd.
The existing fleet consisted of several makes of both counterbalance and warehouse trucks including the early model Hyundai HLF20-II which had been supplied by ETDs. in 2004. SMR was seeking to rationalise the fleet and required a single source supplier for all of the fleet including access equipment and burden transport.
SMR Manager Mr Brian Harrison said “with 23 units up for grabs, competition was fierce with several reputable suppliers being considered, our decision process was intensive and we had some manufacturers demonstrate machines at both of our south coast locations.
Although cost would always be a contributing factor, equipment reliability and on-going support is crucial to the smooth running of our business. As a major supplier to the UK vehicle manufacturers any failure to meet our commitments as a result of machinery downtime would have a very detrimental effect indeed. We already had experience of the earlier Hyundai trucks, and had extended the contract for these in 2009. We were also more than happy with the advice given and the aftersales support provided by the Hyundai Lift Truck importer Eurotrucks Direct (South) Limited” added Mr Harrison.
Hyundai machines supplied by ETDS consisted of various powered pallet trucks and stackers for use within the main production facility, the latest design 16 and 20 BRJ-7 reach trucks equipped with camera for high bay use were installed in the company’s warehouse at Gosport and Portchester.
Brian Hamblin of Eurotrucks Direct (South) Limited comments. “Although we had to install some bespoke equipment at this site the fleet is predominately of Hyundai manufacture. In addition to the warehousing products we have supplied LPG powered 2.0 and 5.0 tonne counterbalance machines some of which are equipped with factory fitted cabin and have been registered for road use. All the IC trucks are TIER IV compliant and the engine management system fitted as standard optimises catalytic life. The trucks are also fitted with an external gas pre-filter system as standard.”
Brian added “there are not so many of these larger manufacturing sites on the south coast as there were in the past, so we were delighted to be awarded this prestigious contract. I am very much aware that our past history with SMR, together with our total commitment to local business and the continued reliability of and the on-going improvements to the Hyundai product was a major contributory factor in our securing this order”.
SMR Automotive Mirrors UK Ltd was formed in the guise of Britax Wingard in 1929 and started to manufacture automobile wing mirrors in the 1950s.
With UK sales in excess of 80 million per annum, the company today supplies the hi-tech door mirrors to most major vehicle manufacturers here in the UK from its Portchester factory.
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