Forklift manufacturer steps in to save Romanian charity
Published: 17 November, 2015
Jungheinrich UK Ltd has come to the aid of a long-established charity that faced closure after thieves stole the forklift truck that was an essential part of its operation. Middlesbrough-based Convoy Aid Romania has collected and exported a wide range of essential goods to north east Romania for some 24 years.
But, when the organisation’s lift truck - used to load outgoing wagons – was taken in December last year, the future looked bleak, as Rod Jones, the charity’s founder, explains: “We were in a situation where we were going to have to close down. The theft of our forklift could have wiped us out completely. It was devastating. The thieves had caused such damage to people who have nothing.”
Jungheinrich heard of the charity’s plight after reading about the theft in the trade press and was quick to offer assistance.
“We just thought it was a fantastic cause that we could do something to help,” says Jungheinrich UK Ltd’s Used Equipment and short term rental director, Neil Warren.
Jungheinrich donated a refurbished diesel-powered counterbalanced truck from its ‘Ready2Go’ range to the charity completely free of charge.
Like all trucks in the ‘Ready2Go’ range, Convoy Aid Romania’s new forklift was refurbished at the Jungheinrich Group’s dedicated used truck refurbishment plant in Dresden
Every machine that passes through the Dresden factory is dismantled and all worn or defective parts are replaced – including tyres and lift chains. The trucks are cleaned inside and out and repainted before being reassembled and safety tested.
“All of the trucks that leave Dresden have been overhauled according to Jungheinrich’s quality standards so that they meet all legal requirements as well as our customers’ needs. The truck is ideal for Convoy Aid Romania’s needs, ” says Neil Warren.
Rod Jones is delighted with the charity’s Jungheinrich truck and has used the forklift to prepare a new convoy destined for Romania straight away.
He said: “It’s a whole new ball game now. We can actually move stuff again. To fill a wagon with goods, 25 men would take all day lifting by hand - with the Jungheinrich forklift truck, one man can do the same work in four hours. The difference is huge and we are very grateful to Jungheinrich for their incredible generosity.”
