Capital Equipment News December 2020

was prompted by a review of our 600SA business model. 600SA is largely a truck-mounted crane and waste compactor business and we wanted it to have a similar business model to the Toyota Forklift side of our business,” he says. “We have 600SA branches in Johannesburg and Durban, but no representation in Cape Town. We had two options; set up a branch from scratch, which is expensive and time consuming, or acquire a business with a good reputation and similar culture to ours,” he adds. With its 35-year history of supplying cranes, lifts, docking equipment and pallet trucks in the Western Cape, Uni-Cape was a perfect fit for EIE Group. Neubert says while the business will become a branch of 600SA, it will retain its unique branding and offering. Because Uni-Cape is a well-known brand in the Western Cape, it will remain a standalone business, but EIE will enhance its product range with CT Power forklifts, a Toyota-owned Chinese brand, Orakci, a Turkish range of waste compactors, as well as Sinoboom aerial platforms. “One of the greatest benefits that Uni-Cape offers is its relationship with Stab-A-Load, which specialises in warehouse doors and dock levellers, among others. We have always wanted to operate in that market and this will be a good opportunity for us to do so in the Western Cape,” notes Neubert. Uni-Cape also brings Palfinger marine and truck-mounted cranes to the product mix. Until recently, 600SA had the Fassi range of truck-mounted cranes in its suite of offerings. The relationship was, however, terminated by mutual agreement at the beginning of this year. Uni-Cape’s Palfinger product range will ensure that the EIE Group can continue offering marine and truck-mounted cranes. Neubert is also encouraged by the company’s recent launch of its TUF Forklifts business, a purely used forklift division. The business provides an extensive range of quality used forklifts and battery-electric equipment, including all makes and models over 10 000 hours at competitive prices. “The TUF Forklifts business allows our salespeople a fantastic opportunity to trade in any brand of forklift. We are not necessarily going to promote our competitors, but it opens the door for our customers to be able to trade in any make they have within their stable for a new forklift from us,” concludes Neubert. b

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS DECEMBER 2020 11