Linde E16P Hire: Courteous Couriers, Ashford, Middlesex
A New Warehouse, A New Partnership
When Courteous Couriers, a same-day and next-day courier business operating in and around the Heathrow and Ashford area moved into a new warehouse, they needed more than just a forklift. They needed a trusted partner who understood their operation, assessed their specific requirements, and delivered the right solution from day one.
For a courier business, time is everything. Delays cost money, and the wrong equipment in the wrong space can bring an entire operation to a standstill. Moving into a new warehouse is a significant moment for any growing business, and getting the material handling solution right from the outset – rather than supplying a forklift which could not operate under their new mezzanine floor was a priority from the start.
Courteous Couriers had a specific challenge: a newly installed mezzanine floor that created a low headroom environment, combined with the need for a reliable, clean, and manoeuvrable forklift capable of handling the daily demands of a busy courier and logistics operation near Heathrow.
That’s exactly what Principle Fork Lifts provided, taking the time to visit the site, understand the constraints, and specify a truck that would work harder and smarter within the space available.
Understanding the Application
Courteous Couriers required a compact, capable electric forklift to handle the day-to-day loading and unloading of vehicles within their warehouse, as well as lifting goods and pallets weighing up to 1000kg to a newly installed mezzanine floor. The mezzanine presented the key restriction: with a clearance of just 2,700 mm, a standard two-stage (duplex) mast was not an option.
The team at Principle Fork Lifts carried out a thorough site survey before any equipment was specified. This isn’t a step we skip, it’s the step that ensures the right truck goes to the right site, first time.
The Solution: Linde E16P (386 Series) with Triple Mast
Following the site survey, we specified the Linde E16P 386 series — an electric counterbalance truck with a 1,600 kg capacity, renowned for its precise controls, low running costs, and compact turning circle. The right spec was critical:
- Triple mast with full free lift – allowing the forks to rise to initial height without the mast itself extending, keeping the overall closed height to just 2,120 mm
- Maximum lift height of 4,625 mm – providing full reach to the mezzanine floor with capacity to spare
- Electric power – clean, quiet, and well-suited to an enclosed warehouse environment
- Linde’s proven build quality – reliable performance over the long-term hire period
The result: a truck that operates comfortably within the 2,700 mm mezzanine clearance and handles the full scope of Courteous Couriers’ warehouse tasks without compromise.
“Principle Fork Lifts made the whole process straightforward. They came out to the site before recommending anything, made sure the spec was right for our mezzanine, and sorted everything from delivery to showing us how to charge and operate the truck properly. It’s been running reliably for over a year now and the service has been excellent throughout.”
— Gary Beckey, Managing Director, Courteous Couriers
Delivery, Charger Installation & On-Site Training
Delivery was arranged entirely around Courteous Couriers’ schedule, a small detail that matters when a business is in the middle of setting up a new site. Before the truck arrived, Principle Fork Lifts provided Gary and his team with all the necessary technical information to assist their electrician in wiring the forklift charger correctly, avoiding any delay on the day of delivery.
On arrival, we carried out a full on-site demonstration covering how to operate the forklift safely and efficiently, and how to charge it correctly to maintain battery health over time. This kind of hands-on handover is standard practice for us. A well-briefed team is a safer team, and it reduces unnecessary wear on the equipment.
The truck has now been on-site for just over a year, and the relationship between the two businesses has gone from strength to strength.
Local Business, Local Community
There’s a nice connection at the heart of this partnership that’s worth celebrating. Principle Fork Lifts has been a long-standing sponsor of Feltham Rugby Club, while Courteous Couriers are proud sponsors of Feltham Football Club — two grassroots clubs that play an important role in the local community around Feltham and Heathrow.
When we first started working with Gary and the team at Courteous Couriers, the shared commitment to supporting local sport was something that came up naturally and it’s the kind of common ground that turns a business relationship into something a little more meaningful. Two local companies, backing two local clubs, working together in the same patch of West London and Middlesex.
It’s a reminder that the businesses keeping grassroots sport alive aren’t always the big names. More often than not, it’s independent operators like Courteous Couriers and Principle Fork Lifts quietly getting on with it, putting something back into the communities they operate in. When those businesses then choose to work with each other, it feels like the right fit from the start. That’s the kind of partnership we value, and it’s one we hope continues for many years to come.
Why Courteous Couriers Chose Principle Fork Lifts
- Independent Linde specialist – no corporate pressures, just the right truck for the job
- Site survey before specification – equipment chosen around real-world constraints
- Flexible delivery – arranged to fit the customer’s schedule
- Full technical support – charger wiring guidance and hands-on operational training on delivery
- Long-term hire with ongoing support – a relationship, not a transaction
- Local to the Heathrow and Ashford corridor – quick response when it matters
Planning a new warehouse or expanding your logistics operation?
If you’re looking for a UK forklift supplier who values relationships as much as results, Principle Fork Lifts is here to help.
Call Principle Fork Lifts on 01784 432277 – we’ll come to you, assess your site, and specify the right Linde forklift for the job.
Contact us today to learn more about our full range of electric forklifts, flexible hire packages, and expert support. Let’s start a partnership that lasts.
