$300k workshop gives hire firm a lift

Staff at Wanganui's Forklift Supplies and Service have a new $300,000 building to shelter them from weather while they work on large vehicles.

The 22sq m Kiwispan workshop went up at the company's premises early this year, owner James Plimmer said. It's behind the Wanganui Dart League building in Heads Rd.

When he bought the site three years ago it had two garages that housed the Suzuki paint shop. One was pulled down and the other has been swallowed up by the new building.

Mr Plimmer's core business is hiring out and maintaining forklifts. He estimates there are at least 100 out there in Wanganui.

Thirty of those are his, hired out for a set monthly fee. He said he was the main person in town with forklifts for hire and he aimed to grow the rental fleet.

His business also does other mechanical and maintenance work, mainly for industry.

Since December last year Mr Plimmer has been working with Ean Cantell. He is a specialist in hydraulics. Forklifts use hydraulics and hydraulics were a natural extension to Mr Plimmer's business.

"We're now looking at growing our stocks of hydraulic hoses and fittings, and also making them ourselves. We think there's room for another player and we've purchased a new hydraulic press."

The company has five staff - two mechanics, an office person, and two to work with hydraulics. Mr Plimmer and wife Donna have had the business for 15 years.