January 2006 - Another seven Noell Straddle Carriers for Ports Of Auckland

After a twenty five year absence Clark Equipment Australia Pty Ltd (CEA) has re-entered the Straddle Carrier business big time.

During the original Containerisation Boom in the 70's CEA manufactured in excess of 130 Clark Straddle Carriers known as Van Carriers, and saturated the Australian and New Zealand Markets.

The specially built Van Carrier shed as it was known in the 70's is now the Heavy Fabrication building where its high roof line enables CEA to assemble even the tallest of its modern Omega Lift trucks.

In 2003 CEA negotiated to represent the German designed and manufactured Noell Straddle Carriers and achieved immediate results with the sale of four units to Ports of Auckland Axis Terminal and three units of similar specification to the then CSX Terminal in Adelaide. These orders were not only a breakthrough for Noell in the Australasian market but were also the first sales outside Europe of the State of the Art Diesel Electric units.

Being advanced technology machines those first units were not without their problems but faith in the future of the technology and the dedicated commitment and support from both Noell, CEA and CENZ to improve reliability gave Ports of Auckland and CSX the confidence to place further orders.

In March 2006 DP World who took over CSX in 2005 will take delivery of their tenth Noell Straddle whilst Axis terminal at Ports of Auckland placed an order in March 2006 for an additional seven units, which will bring their fleet to fifteen machines.

With a Total of Twenty Five Diesel Electric units and Forty Five Diesel Hydraulic units now operating in Australia and New Zealand Clark and Noell have dominated Straddle Carrier Sales in the Region.