British-based brewer Carlsberg is upgrading the materials handling equipment fleet throughout its UK distribution operation with products from the Jungheinrich range.

Carlsberg's in-house UK beer distribution operation features four main Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) – at Croydon, Stonecross, Tingley and Birmingham - and 13 strategically located local depots across the UK. Kegs and bottles of the company's popular lagers arrive at the main RDCs from Carlsberg's breweries in Northampton and Leeds. They are stored at the RDCs before onward delivery to the local depots from where they are sent on to pubs and clubs.

Jungheinrich has supplied a range of order pickers, reach trucks, counterbalanced machines as well as pallet trucks and the equipment is being rolled out at all of Carsberg's UK distribution sites. The counterbalanced models supplied are from Jungheinrich's recently launched VFG range of diesel-powered forklifts, which feature hydrostatic drive and several are fitted with Kaup keg clamps to enable barrels to handled easily, efficiently and safely.

Carlsberg has purchased the trucks outright and an ongoing maintenance contract has been agreed between the companies. Under the terms of the maintenance contract Jungheinrich engineers will support Carlsberg's entire fleet - including forklift models from the company's previous supplier until they are phased out completely.

Bill Goodwin, Jungheinrich UK Ltd's sales director, added: "We are naturally delighted to be working with Carlsberg. The company's decision to change forklift suppliers having worked with another lift truck company for some 20 years, was not an easy one for them, but we are sure that they have made the right choice with our highly productive VFG engine truck range."