Mike Parkin joins the Hyster Big Trucks team from UK Hyster distribution partner, Briggs Equipment UK. He has also previously worked for Barloworld Handling and Kalmar.

“Mike brings over 10 years of big truck industry experience and knowledge to NMHG as well as a deep understanding of customer needs. Providing solutions to suit our customers and their specific application needs is a big focus for Hyster -we feel it differentiates us in the marketplace- and Mike comes equipped with this philosophy,” says Rainer Marian, Head of industrial Big Trucks Sales EMEA.

In this market, the Nordic countries are typically early adopters of the latest technologies, with operator comfort and in cab noise reduction, load stability for challenging shaped or sized loads and ecological benefits being important factors.

“Forestry and timber manufacture are key sectors in Sweden, with many saw mills across the country” explains Mike Parkin. “These applications require robust, reliable and comfortable big trucks from 8-32 tonne capacity to lift heavy loads. The specification requirement is not always an off the shelf product and Hyster is well positioned to provide these solutions. This is what Hyster does best.”

Finland also has high demand for Hyster big trucks, with steel being a large focus industry, as well as wood. Steel handling and metal production often require the use of magnets and coil rams as well as standard forks. Hyster works with trusted partners to provide specialist attachments, required to suit the specific application requirements. A special magnet system, for example, has been developed for forklift trucks working in steel mills to pick up steel bars.

The trucks sometimes need to withstand the high temperatures in steel mills, as well as operating for 16 hours a day. “Hyster trucks are proven time and again in these demanding applications,” adds Mike Parkin. Due to these application demands and operator requirements it is imperative to provide the right solution to meet the specific requirements, which means a reliable machine to help ensure operations keep running.

“In addition, Hyster differentiates with its latest Stage IV / Tier 4f Cummins QSB 6.7 engine, offering up to 25 percent fuel savings,” says Rainer Marian. “This is not only environmentally-friendly, but fuel saving is a desirable and vitally important feature in Scandinavia where equipment is often used for extended working hours.”

Mike also cites operator comfort as an important factor in Scandinavian operations. Hyster trucks feature spacious, comfortable driver cabins, with very good front, side and rear visibility, which are available with air conditioning and heating to suit the operator’s needs. Small features such as heated mirrors help to enhance visibility for operators in cold conditions. All Hyster products are supported by a network of highly trained dealers providing expert, responsive local service and customisations for specific industries such as the metal and forestry industries.