Sarens, a global leader in crane rental, heavy lifting, and engineered transport, is broadening its offering in South Africa with the launch of a new material handling equipment division, supported by a dedicated branch in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.

This development marks an important new chapter for Sarens in South Africa, where the company is already recognised for its crane rental, heavy lifting, and specialised transport solutions. Around the world, Sarens has built its reputation over several generations as a major force in engineered lifting and transport, serving sectors such as construction, energy, infrastructure, mining, and industrial maintenance.

“With the opening of the new Pinetown branch, Sarens in South Africa is now bringing that same operational background into the material handling market. The facility will support the sale and rental of equipment across South Africa and Southern Africa, with stock available locally to help respond to client requirements more efficiently,” says Graham Clare, business unit manager for material handling at Sarens Southern Africa.

He says the new material handling equipment division will include forklifts from 1,8T to 16T, heavy lift forklifts from 18T to 46T, warehouse equipment, port equipment such as reach stackers, empty container handlers and tow motors, telehandlers, cherry pickers, and scissor lifts, with specialised equipment also available depending on project needs.

“The range is designed to serve businesses requiring reliable short- or long-term rental options, whether for industrial sites, construction work, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, or maintenance activities,” he says.

For the KwaZulu-Natal market, the Pinetown branch enhances Sarens’ regional presence and brings the company closer to clients in Durban and the surrounding industrial areas. It also adds to a wider national footprint that includes operations in Johannesburg, Sasolburg, Rustenburg, Cape Town, and now Durban, with further expansion planned as the business grows.

“While Sarens may be a new name in the local material handling equipment rental space, it enters the sector with the support of a much larger international organisation behind it. This gives the division access to established systems, technical knowledge, operational discipline, and the backing of a group with deep experience in equipment-intensive industries,” says Graham Clare.

He explains that the expansion also responds to a wider market requirement. “Across construction, logistics, manufacturing, and industrial operations, companies increasingly require flexible equipment solutions that can be scaled to match workload, site conditions, and project duration. By combining its existing heavy lifting and transport capabilities with a new material handling fleet, Sarens in South Africa aims to offer clients a more complete equipment rental solution from a single partner,” he says.

The company’s global motto, “Nothing too heavy, nothing too high,” has long captured its approach to complex lifting challenges. With the introduction of material handling equipment in South Africa, Sarens is extending the same mindset to a broader range of everyday industrial and site operations.

The opening of the Pinetown branch establishes Sarens in South Africa as a new entrant in the local MHE market, supported by the experience, fleet culture, and operational strength of a well-established global group.