Forklift products and services provider Masslift Africa, in partnership with Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, this week launched Mitsubishi’s new-generation Grendia forklift series for the Southern African market, at an event held at Masslift’s Johannesburg premises.

Masslift is the distributor of Mitsubishi Forklifts in Southern Africa.

This is an upgrade on the current, about 20-year-old Grendia series that Masslift Africa has been distributing in the region, and which has garnered much success, Masslift Africa CEO Marco Caverni told Engineering News on the sidelines of the launch.

The company placed an order for the new product when Mitsubishi announced it last year, and units have since arrived in the country.

Caverni said facets of the old series that were deemed to have worked very well were retained, with Mitsubishi focusing on refinements, rather than reinvention.

This includes the internal combustion engine and the transmission being very similar to the old model. Moreover, 80% of the parts on the new mode are interchangeable with the old model, as well as with the Ninja model.  

The product includes a low-noise engine, enhanced soundproofing, and floor-level noise reduction, aimed at a more ergonomic and operator-friendly experience.

One major change was the vehicle control module dash, which had been reinforced to make it as reliable as possible, to reduce electronic breakdowns, Caverni informed.

The model also includes an integrated presence system, which proactively identifies hazards before accidents, prioritising operator safety during vehicle operation and mitigating nonseated errors, in the vein of shielding operators and workplaces from potential risks.

Caverni said benefits included the machine offering the lowest fuel consumption on the market, with potential savings estimated at between R1 000 and R2 000 a month on fuel.  

Moreover, the units needed to be serviced only every 500 hours, compared with the industry standard of 250 hours, contributing to less downtime and lower costs for customers. It also boasted the longest warranty in the market, with a three-year or 5 000-hour powertrain warranty from Mitsubishi, Caverni averred.  

He added that Masslift extended the warranty, by taking the maintenance contract to eight years, or 12 000 hours, essentially covering the entire life of the asset. “This is how much we believe in the reliability and robustness of the product.”

Caverni posited that the Grendia was unparalleled in terms of the total cost over the life of the product, with it being an easy diesel unit to service, at a low cost.

Mitsubishi has reduced the price for the new product slightly, which Masslift will also be passing on to customers.

Meanwhile, environment-friendly features of the machine include Tier 3 engine emissions, which Caverni said was about highest level of efficiency possible with the country’s fuel quality.

It is also equipped with light-emitting diode lights.

Caverni posited the product was ideal for the South African market, with a combination of reliability and sophistication, while also offering ease of service.