Centra Forklifts Competition Winners Announced

by Press Release on 2011-10-31

Wai Shing Selected as National Winner

The six winners of a competition to celebrate Centra Forklift’s 30-year exclusive partnership with Mitsubishi in New Zealand, have been announced.

31st October 2011 (Global Logistics Media) The Centra Forklifts ‘Tell us your story’ competition asked Mitsubishi Forklift owners and operators to submit their stories about how their Mitsubishi Forklift Truck has helped in everyday work or added value to business operations.

Pukekohe-based commercial vegetable grower and exporter Wai Shing was selected as the national winner for its unwavering commitment to the Mitsubishi brand.

“Wai Shing has been using Mitsubishi Forklifts for 27 years,” says Shane O’Driscoll, General Manager, Centra Forklifts. “One of their trucks has been in operation for more than 29,000 hours, moving produce day in and day out. Wai Shing is a family-owned business, and the team continues to trust in the Mitsubishi brand that their father had confidence in, because of its reliability in a hard environment.”

Gro-Chem, a provider of plant nutrition, insecticides, fungicides and plant growth regulators, was voted as the favourite in the People’s Choice category with a range of loyal followers supporting its entry. Regional winners included Pinepac Group in Auckland, Cambridge Kiln & Timber Treatment, Gisborne Towing Services and Mitsubishi Motors NZ Ltd in Porirua.

All winners receive a commemorative Mitsubishi Forklift model, a $200 Speight’s Alehouse voucher and Mitsubishi merchandise. National winner Wai Shing also receives a year’s free forklift servicing – valued at over $1,000.

“Centra Forklifts and Mitsubishi have been working together in New Zealand for 30 years,” says O’Driscoll. “Many of the competition entries identified forklifts that had been in operation since 1981, which was the first year of importing fully-manufactured Mitsubishis into New Zealand. This is a great testament to the longevity and durability of the Mitsubishi brand and our customer’s commitment to it. A big congratulations to all of the winners!”

Centra Forklifts and Mitsubishi 30 year anniversary
In the late 1970s, Centra (known back then as Lees) began its long association with the Mitsubishi brand. This originally involved importing engines, drive axles and transmissions for use in the Lees brand of forklifts, which were manufactured in Auckland. In 1981 Centra began to import fully manufactured Mitsubishi forklifts into the New Zealand market. 2011 marks the 30 year anniversary of this exclusive partnership.

About Centra Forklifts
Centra Forklifts has been the exclusive New Zealand agent for Mitsubishi forklifts for 30 years. The company operates from five sites around the country - complimented by a national dealer network – and provides for all material handling requirements from forklift sales to parts, rental and servicing. Centra is proud to be 100% New Zealand owned.

Centra Mitsubishi regional distributors and service agents:
Whangarei: Keith Andrews Limited Hamilton: Central Forklifts
Taupo: Taupo Forklift Sales & Service Ltd Tauranga: Tauranga Forklift Services
Gisborne: Professional Fleet Maintenance Napier: Motorworks HB Ltd
Palmerston North: Centra Forklifts (PN) Ltd New Plymouth: KMC Ltd Lower Hutt: All Fleet Services
Nelson: TSN Truck Specialists Nelson Ltd Dunedin: Conveyor and Engineering Services Invercargill: Industrial Equipment Services