GPHA, Ghana: JCB Teletruks: A Success Story.

In News, Ports & Logistics by Alisa Evans

The story of the JCB Teletruk forklift in Tema harbour is an interesting one, and starts, as many good product stories do, at CeMAT Materials Handling Exhibition. On attending the exhibition in 1999 the Operations Director of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority [GPHA], saw a JCB Teletruk for the first time, and could not get its unique abilities out of his mind. GPHA was convinced that the Teletruk forklift – even though not developed for port applications – would be the perfect machine for their operations. Eventually GPHA succeeded in convincing Paterson Simons management and JCB to come on-board and the first JCB Teletruk was delivered to GPHA in 2002.

Teletruks have proven to be a superb option for container unstuffing, as not only can they drive into the container but can easily handle loose and bulk materials. As GPHA comments “The Teletruk makes a direct impact on saving life and limb with its fantastic clear forward vision especially when working in containers.” Thanks to the innovative outlook of GPHA the Teletruk has fast become a popular option in both Tema and Takoradi harbours, and today GPHA operates over 60 Teletruks.

BELOW: Teletruk forklifts have proven to be a superb option for container unstuffing.

Iain Welsh, JCB’s Export Business Development Manager, on his first visit to Ghana in December 2013 said: “It was fantastic to see so many Teletruks working in one single operation. This is arguably the biggest single operation in the world using the JCB Teletruk. To see the features of the machine being used every day and seeing how it benefits GPHA was very satisfying. Without the backup and vision of Paterson Simons this would not have been possible. I can only thank them for this. The future is looking positive for both Paterson Simons and JCB Industrial working in partnership.”

…and the success continues.

In 2015 GPHA made a further order for 20 units of the JCB TLT 35D. Stephen Owiah, Port Mechanical Engineer at GPHA concludes, “The Teletruks have low maintenance and maintenance costs. Productivity of Teletruks at GPHA is unmatched by any other forklift in that capacity. In fact it will be difficult for GPHA, Tema Port to depart from the use the Teletruks now or in future.”

The Teletruk forklift is uniquely flexible and surprising adept at port applications, for instance it is a superb option for container unstuffing, as not only can it drive into the container but can easily handle loose and bulk materials. The Teletruk quickly became a popular option in both Tema and Takoradi harbours, and today there are over 60 Teletruks at GPHA.

Iain Welsh is JCB’s Export Business Development Manager and his first visit to Ghana in December 2013 coincided with a customer event where we presented Seth with a special recognition for his vision and foresight in developing the Teletruk market. Of his visit Iain said: “It was fantastic to see so many Teletruks working in one single operation. This is arguably the biggest single operation in the world using the JCB Teletruk. To see the features of the machine being used every day and seeing how it benefits GPHA was very satisfying. Without the backup and vision of Paterson Simons this would not have been possible. I can only thank them for this. The future is looking positive for both Paterson Simons and JCB Industrial working in partnership.”