AMSTERDAM

BREAKBULK
FLEXIBLE
WITH
FORKLIFTS
Forkliftcenter sells, rents and
leases forklifts from the heart of
the Amsterdam port. Owner Bjørn
André de la Porte explains how
he finds flexible solutions in a
fluctuating market.
TEXT: PAUL DE LANGE PHOTO: FORKLIFTCENTER
Although the forklift business is in Bjørn André de
la Porte’s DNA, Forkliftcenter, of which he is the
CEO/owner, is not a family business. “My father
started a company trading in forklifts back in 1967, which
he later sold. So you can truly say I grew up in this business.
When I started Forkliftcenter in 2002, my father even
helped out for a few years.” In the nearly 15 years since its
establishment, Forkliftcenter has developed into a major
player in the indoor transport world, De La Porte continues.
“We rent, sell and lease forklifts – from pallet jacks to reach
stackers – and provide after-sales services, which include
maintenance and repairs. In the field of relatively new preowned
equipment, in particular, we are one of the world’s
leading players.”
opposite.” Due to the versatile demand, Forkliftcenter
is always looking for flexible solutions. For example, the
company has forklifts that can be placed on board to remove
goods from a vessel and put them on a trailer. If necessary,
equipment can even be fully custom made.
“We developed bespoke forklifts for shipping company
Grimaldi in cooperation with the manufacturer. These 42-
ton forklifts have the exact height for using in the spaces
below deck so that Grimaldi can unload its own vessels. Who
could have imagined that we would be involved in such
completely unique projects. And the great thing is that now
Custom made
Asked how Forkliftcenter fits into the port logistics
framework – for instance with regard to the unloading of
breakbulk – De La Porte refers to the moment when the
cranes have completed their major tasks. “Unloading vessels
starts with cranes, which place the cargo on the quay. From
thereon, our equipment continues the logistic process, with
reach stackers and terminal trackers which remove the
cargo; when vessels are loaded the process is the complete
24 AMSTERDAM SEAPORTS 2016