Juanita Pienaar spoke with Alistair Bennett, Managing Director of SkyJacks, about the company’s latest milestone, its appointment as the authorised distributor of Hyundai forklifts in South Africa, and how this development reinforces SkyJacks’ position as a trusted, multi-solution partner in access, lifting, and material handling.
Four decades of elevating industry standards
Founded in 1978, SkyJacks has become a cornerstone of South Africa’s industrial landscape. Over more than forty years, the company has evolved into one of the country’s leading specialists in access, lifting, and material handling solutions, serving industries from construction and logistics to mining and manufacturing.
“Our business has always been built on reliability, technical expertise, and service excellence,” says Alistair Bennett, Managing Director of SkyJacks. “Over the decades, we’ve grown from a small family-owned business to a nationally recognised brand that enables safe, productive, and efficient working environments.”
Today, SkyJacks’ offering spans Suspended Access Systems, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, Telescopic Handlers, Cranes, Forklifts, and Industrial Floor Cleaning Equipment, alongside a comprehensive range of lifting gear and load testing services. Its long-standing partnerships with leading global OEMs ensure that customers have access to the most advanced technologies and best-in-class equipment.
A complete solutions partner
SkyJacks’ reputation in the market rests on more than the equipment it supplies. It’s about offering end-to-end solutions that combine quality products with strong technical and service support.
“Our differentiation lies in four key areas,” Bennett explains. “Comprehensive solutions, global partnerships, technical expertise, and a customer-first service culture.”
This holistic approach allows SkyJacks to meet complex client requirements with a combination of products, expertise, and responsive aftersales support. “We collaborate with leading OEMs worldwide to ensure access to world-class technology and equipment,” says Bennett. “At the same time, our in-house workshop capabilities and 24/7 field service teams ensure that clients get the reliability and uptime they need to stay productive.”
The company’s service culture is one of its defining strengths. SkyJacks invests heavily in operator training, safety compliance, and equipment maintenance - all key factors that reduce downtime and operational risk. “By empowering people and industries to work smarter and safer, we’re contributing to both economic growth and safer workplaces,” Bennett adds.
Introducing Hyundai Material Handling
The recent appointment of SkyJacks as the authorised distributor for Hyundai forklifts marks a major turning point in the company’s growth story.
“This appointment is a significant milestone for us,” says Bennett. “Hyundai Material Handling is a globally respected brand, with a presence in over 140 countries. Being chosen to represent Hyundai in South Africa is a real honour and a powerful endorsement of our capabilities.”
The Hyundai partnership strengthens SkyJacks’ already diverse portfolio and broadens its reach in the material handling market. “It allows us to better serve both new and existing customers,” Bennett explains. “We’re now able to deliver proven, reliable solutions from a world-class brand - reinforcing our position as a trusted multi-solution provider in the industry.”
World-class forklifts built for South African operations
Hyundai’s forklift range is known for its innovation, reliability, and operator-focused design. According to Bennett, the brand’s values align perfectly with SkyJacks’ own commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
“The Hyundai name is synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation, and every Hyundai forklift embodies these qualities,” he says. The range includes electric, diesel, and LPG-powered models, offering versatility across applications and industries.
Customers can expect features such as fuel-efficient, low-emission engines, advanced lithium-ion power options, onboard diagnostics, and real-time performance data. “Comprehensive safety systems and operator comfort are also a key focus,” adds Bennett. “This combination ensures exceptional reliability, a low total cost of ownership, and improved operational efficiency.”
The forklift range caters to logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, retail, ports, and the food and beverage sectors, as well as heavy industry and mining. “It’s a versatile product line that complements our existing access and lifting solutions perfectly,” says Bennett. “We can now support customers across an even broader range of applications.”
The SkyJacks promise
Aftersales support has always been a cornerstone of SkyJacks’ business model, and the Hyundai partnership is no exception. “We are investing significantly in service capability, technical training, and parts availability to fully support Hyundai forklifts,” Bennett confirms.
SkyJacks’ national branch network, well-equipped workshops, and skilled technical teams ensure quick turnaround times and proactive maintenance support. “Our goal is to maximise uptime and equipment longevity,” he says. “When customers invest in our products, they also invest in a partnership that guarantees continued performance.”
This commitment to service extends to operator training and safety compliance. “Operator competence is essential to productivity and safety,” Bennett notes. “That’s why we make training a key part of our offering. We don’t just sell machines; we support the people who use them.”
Growth through partnership and innovation
SkyJacks’ vision is to become Southern Africa’s most trusted partner in industrial equipment supply - a goal that the Hyundai collaboration helps bring within closer reach.
“The partnership directly supports our strategic vision by strengthening our material handling portfolio and providing a robust growth platform in one of the most dynamic segments of the equipment industry,” Bennett says. “It’s an exciting time for us. We’re not just expanding our product offering, we’re expanding the value we bring to customers.”
Beyond the Hyundai development, SkyJacks continues to grow through new partnerships and product innovations. The company has recently added the MACH range of commercial and industrial floor cleaning machines from Italian manufacturer Eureka S.p.A., further enhancing its ability to deliver complete workplace solutions.
Building skills and capacity for the future
In parallel with product diversification, SkyJacks is also investing in local skills development and expanding its national footprint to improve service accessibility.
“We’re expanding our branch network and investing in technical training to build local skills and capacity,” Bennett explains. “It’s not just about growth for its own sake, it’s about creating long-term sustainability and supporting South Africa’s industrial development.”
This investment aligns with SkyJacks’ broader mission: to be a reliable, long-term partner for customers while contributing positively to the national economy. “Our ongoing focus remains on customer service, safety, and innovation,” says Bennett. “We aim to continue setting the standard for quality and reliability in the South African market.”
A future built on strength and partnership
For SkyJacks, the Hyundai partnership is a reaffirmation of the company’s commitment to delivering world-class equipment, backed by local expertise and unwavering service support.
As Bennett concludes: “We see this as an opportunity to elevate our offering, strengthen our customer relationships, and continue leading the way in access, lifting, and material handling solutions. Our journey has always been about helping our customers reach new heights, and this partnership allows us to take that mission even further.”