High-quality local machinery attachment manufacturer, Digga, has taken delivery of a new fleet of Toyota Material Handling forklifts – including eight Toyota 8FBE20 2-tonne 3-wheel and a Toyota BT RRE160M reach forklift (all electric) – to keep the heart of its material handling operations pumping at its Yatala, Queensland-based 12,500 square-metre facility.
Toyota has been a proud business partner with Digga for an extensive period, supplying Toyota Material Handling equipment to it over 20 years and, in turn, specifying Digga buckets for Toyota Huski skid steer loaders.
Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) major account manager, Martin Gross, said the relationship with Digga extends back nearly 30 years and reflects a key pillar of the Toyota Advantage – Tailored Business Solutions.
“We have been with Digga since its humble beginnings and watched it grow exponentially during that time to become a highly successful, state-of-the-art manufacturer,” said Mr Gross. “We have been proud to be part of its journey, to learn its business and accordingly supply TMHA equipment tailored to its production needs.”
The latest example of this is the delivery of eight Toyota 8FBE20 2-tonne 3-wheel forklifts that best suit the constricted operating areas created when extra storage was squeezed out from a factory rebuild.
“The 8FBE three-wheelers have a remarkably tight turning circle, with the 2-tonne 8FBE20 model being able to operate in narrow aisle widths, so are perfect for that environment,” said Mr Gross.
“After consulting with TMHA, Digga also specified that the last of their gas-powered forklifts be replaced with battery-powered equivalents.
“The battery technology has improved a lot, they’re a lot more versatile these days, so Digga could see the sense in upgrading from gas to electric, thereby also reducing emissions.”
The specified forklifts also had to stand up to some necessarily tough treatment by Digga’s operators. “They work them hard. They’re packing up hard and tough things all the time. It’s not just biscuits off a shelf.”
Digga supply chain manager, Micah Stevens, said Toyota’s reputation for durability and reliability – another tenant of the Toyota Advantage – and the proven performance of its forklifts in such a demanding working environment was a key reason for the business’ latest additions to its fleet.
“One of the reasons we have stuck with Toyota forklifts and continue to renew our fleet with them is their longevity. Absolutely,” said Mr Stevens. “They have proven to be very reliable machines over a long period of time. They go right through to their service intervals, even if they’re getting on a bit, so we get a good life out of them. The durability is fantastic.
“Because we don’t have much downtime with them, that translates to cost efficiencies for the business overall. Very few of them break down and if they do Toyota’s reps fix them up right away or provide a short-term rental in the interim.
“If something goes wrong, they sort it out. They don’t walk away, they’re shoulder-to-shoulder with you.”
Mr Stevens said the operators also appreciate the Toyota Forklifts, with the newest additions being highly sought-after. “The operators like using them because they’re practical to use. The ergonomics and drivability are fantastic. With our latest machines we literally had guys claiming them straight away and putting all their gear on them. They really look after them and treat them as their own.”
“We’ve come a long way in our partnership with Toyota and our business continues to grow. We have no reason to change that, so will be sticking with Toyota forklifts in the future. Simplistically, they’re a good machine that’s easy and safe to operate, has the features we need and doesn’t let you down.”
For more information freecall 1800 425 438 or visit www.toyotamaterialhandling.com.au
