Leading forklift manufacturer, Doosan, has been chosen as the preferred supplier of leading international construction materials group Saint-Gobain.
The UK’s largest ever forklift deal will see the company supply over 2,000 counterbalance trucks across a variety of Saint-Gobain UK manufacturing, retail and merchant sites. These include the company’s Jewson, JP Corry and Gibbs and Dandy builders’ merchant networks.
Doosan UK director and general manager, Tim Waples, believes the deal will cement the forklift company’s position in the UK and greatly raise the stature of the brand.
Said Tim: “Naturally, we are delighted to have been selected as the supplier of choice for Saint-Gobain. We feel that our profile has been rising for many years and it’s a real vote of confidence. We look forward to an excellent partnership with the group.”
The scale of the agreement, over two years in the making, will see Doosan trucks operating in over 800 Saint-Gobain sites across the country.
The deal came about whe
n national supplier Rushlift secured the UK’s largest supply level agreement with Saint-Gobain. The scale of the deal has prompted the materials handling specialist to recruit 30 additional engineering, account management and administrative personnel, with more appointments expected to follow.
Rushlift Chairman, Peter Cosgrove, believes the deal was made easier thanks to the backing of a major manufacturer.
Said Peter: “A deal of this size is not just about equipment. It’s about service, top quality account management and building up trust over a long period. And having dealt with Doosan for many years as their national partner, we felt they were the natural choice for Saint-Gobain.”
“All parties have worked hard together to bring this deal to fruition. The agreement is on a unprecedented scale and we are excited by the opportunities and challenges it presents our business.”
Saint-Gobain’s fleet director, Ian Berrill, Said: “We were keen to choose a major global player that can provide safe, modern and reliable equipment. Doosan have worked hard to prove that they can supply reliable, productive, high quality equipment for the next ten years and we are extremely pleased to have secured our agreement with them.”
Having already ended their previous contract with their outgoing supplier, the move signals the start of a long term partnership between Saint-Gobain, Rushlift and Doosan.
UK general sales manager, Paul Watson, believes the new partnership will bring rewards for each of the businesses involved.
Said Paul: “Our equipment has consistently proven itself as both competitive and reliable. The decision by Rushlift to enter this partnership is affirmation of the quality of our products and indeed the quality to which we work. Sustainability also forms a crucial aspect of the Saint-Gobain ethos and adding fuel saving options, such as engine idle shutdown and speed limiters, will reduce a significant amount of waste and cost.”
Following detailed site surveys and stakeholder consultations, the overall number of trucks has also been reduced, with specifications designed to maximise equipment utilisation and improve operator efficiency, further enhanced by providing flexibility within the contract.
Concludes Tim Waples: “This milestone contract has only been made possible thanks to the huge effort and support of Rushlift, who have worked closely with us for many years. I must also praise Doosan’s sales and service teams, both here in the UK and in our head office in South Korea, who have worked tirelessly for many years to provide the highest levels of support needed to continue winning business from such prestigious customers as Saint-Gobain.”
