Saint Gobain confirms Doosan as preferred forklift supplier

International construction materials group Saint-Gobain has specified Korean forklift manufacturer Doosan as its preferred materials handling equipment supplier for the next ten years.

The move is part of a deal St Gobain signed in May with Rushlift. Under the terms of that £100m deal, Rushlift is responsible for the management and maintenance of its 2,000 forklifts over the next ten years.

The tie-up effectively makes Doosan first port of call as these 2,000 trucks come up for replacement over the next ten years.

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 has worked hard to prove it can supply reliable, productive, high quality equipment for the next ten years and we are extremely pleased to have secured our agreement.”

The move signals the start of a long term partnership between Saint-Gobain, Rushlift and Doosan.

The agreement covers 800 Saint-Gobain sites across the country, including the 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.

“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.”

Rushlift Chairman, Peter Cosgrove, believes the deal was made easier thanks to the backing of a major manufacturer.

“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.”

Over 100 Doosan models are available in the UK from 1.5 to 16.0 tonnes (IC models) and 1.3 to 5.0 tonnes for electric models, plus pallet trucks, stackers, order pickers and reach trucks.