GLI has three divisions: GLPrint (printing), GLDirect (fulfillment and distribution), and AKSESS (digital inventory management). GLPrint and GLDirect use a fleet of electric forklifts and propane (LP) Cat^® lift trucks to move cargo and inventory to and from the warehouse and out for shipping.

GLI owns an 85,000 square-foot and a 200,000 square-foot warehouse where the company is responsible for quickly and efficiently moving a variety of materials, including printing equipment, high-quality paper, large in-store signs and banners, and marketing brochures. With more than 300 national and international clients, GLI must deliver at a rapid pace and make sure its printing products are not damaged before reaching their final destination.

Third Generation Partner

GLI has used Cat lift trucks for more than 30 years and has always relied on the company to provide efficient and reliable forklifts as their needs have grown and changed.

"My grandfather founded GLI in 1931 and since then we have taken great pride in delivering quality merchandise to our customers," said Jim Schultz, chairman of the board, president and CEO of GLI. "Our dedication to the end product has allowed us to grow from a regional company to a nation-wide leader in the printing industry. Cat Lift Trucks has grown with us as our needs change, enabling us to continue to provide superior service to our customers."

Cat Lift Trucks is the leading supplier of reliable and rugged lift trucks, known for its durable and solutions-oriented line of material-handling forklifts for commercial and industrial applications. It is the industry leader in customer service and support and offers lift trucks with model capacities ranging from 2,200 to 36,000 pounds.

Quality Forklifts Are Key

With pallets of high-quality printing paper weighing anywhere from 700 to 1,300 pounds, strict deadlines and large company facilities, GLI relies heavily on quality equipment and forklifts to store, move and ship its products.

"When it came time to determine what lift truck equipment would be used to transport our goods, we had a lot of hurdles to consider," Schultz said.

The company's print and distribution divisions run three eight-hour shifts anywhere from five to seven days a week, so equipment that could work a heavy, rigorous schedule was a requirement.

"For GLI, the most important quality in evaluating lift trucks was dependability," Schultz said. "We needed reliable equipment that could meet our needs with minimal downtime and the ability to quickly move products as needed. This enables us to meet our customers' deadlines, night or day."

In addition to long hours, GLI knew customer support would be a major factor in selecting the right forklift provider. Because of that, the Cat Lift Trucks commitment to providing superior customer service, along with its reputation in the material handling industry for providing quality assistance through its preventative forklift maintenance program, were major deciding factors.

"Cat Lift Trucks is known for providing superior customer service and support," Shultz said. "GLI was looking for a fleet of reliable trucks that would minimize excessive downtime caused by general maintenance. Due to the differing requirements for both of our locations, we looked for a partnership with a service organization that understood our business needs, regardless of which operation needed support."

Bringing the Solution

When GLI approached its local Cat lift truck dealer, Towlift, Inc. (Cleveland), the dealer was able to recommend the right forklifts for its needs.

"When GLI needed to upgrade to new trucks, we went to Towlift because of our excellent past experiences with the dealer and Cat Lift Trucks," Schultz said. "Towlift was able to analyze our needs and recommended several different Cat lift truck models that would meet our requirements efficiently and cost-effectively."

Towlift recommended a mix of the electric and internal combustion Cat lift trucks to accommodate the company's print and large warehousing needs. Understanding the different needs for each location, Towlift provided GLI the most effective solution possible.

"At Cat Lift Trucks, we understand that customers like GLI have specific needs and industry demands that they must meet," said Kent Eudy, vice president of marketing for Cat Lift Trucks. "Our dealers are committed to finding the right fit for our customers' requirements and to providing timely customer service to ensure our customers are happy for the lifetime of the truck."

For GLPrint's 85,000 square-foot print and marketing software division, the dealer recommended the electric model trucks because of the size and small spaces the trucks must maneuver. The company uses the ET3000 - three wheel electric forklift and the ET3500 - three wheel electric lift truck. These electric trucks boast a long life, as well as low noise levels, fueling and maintenance costs. They are more compact offering a tighter turning radius, so they can fit in tighter spaces and produce zero emissions. GLPrint currently uses these two lift trucks in addition to the GC40KPRH-STR that is equipped with a Cascade roll clamp for web rolls.

GLDirect purchased three C3000 propane forklifts that the company uses for its 200,000 square foot distribution and fulfillment division because of their ability to quickly cover the large space. These propane lift trucks are well suited for multi-shift operations. The standard PurePower^® engine in the C3000 is environmentally-friendly and can withstand long run times, high speeds and ramps. The C3000 forklifts can run a full shift on a tank of propane and are easy to refuel.

"Cat Lift Trucks is committed to customer service and puts customer needs first with the most comprehensive customer support programs," Schultz said. "GLI was impressed that the manufacturer offers a two-year unlimited hours warranty, next business day availability of all parts, and a free loaner service guarantee if a lift truck is not repaired right the first time and within the quoted time frame."

GLI's newest lift trucks were acquired about two years ago, and Towlift administers all maintenance. "Towlift sends a technician for planned maintenance," said Mike Stewart, GLI's director of operations. "Other than our daily inspections, we really don't do any maintenance at all. The service technicians are usually here on a reoccurring schedule, and one comes immediately if we call. You couldn't ask for a more responsive service plan."

An unexpected benefit the company also has found about Cat lift trucks has been their durability. GLI hosts two warehouses at its distribution campus, so the forklifts must be able to endure the outside weather in addition to working inside. With winters in the Cleveland area reaching as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit with as much as 12 inches of snow, it's important for the company to have reliable material handling equipment that can handle the environmental impacts.

"Winters in the area are rough, and we run the trucks between the facilities on a daily basis," Stewart said. "The forklifts hold up well under the environmental pressures and run just as smooth inside as they do out."

Superior Results

In addition to delivering quality results, GLI has saved money, improved productivity and enhanced efficiency by selecting Cat lift trucks.

"With the new propane equipment at GLDirect, we've seen a 20 percent savings in efficiency through longer production time and decreased energy costs," Schultz said. "Cat lift trucks are simply more efficient and better equipped to meet our needs."

The company now has more than 25 certified forklift operators throughout the three divisions who regularly use the electric and LP trucks to move raw material used in the printing division and finish goods in the fulfillment center. The company has seen a large increase in productivity and can now manage many more shipments a day.

"Compared to the trucks that GLI has used in the past, Cat Lift Trucks has provided a strong, reliable product that never quits," said Ray Dennis, material handler with GLDirect. "Since using our new fleet, GLI has not had any operational failures with any of the trucks on our premises due to routine maintenance."

The company has benefited from more than three generations of Cat lift trucks and plans to continue their relationship with the dealer and forklift manufacturer for years to come. "We have come to heavily depend on Cat Lift Trucks and look forward to continuing to use them as our forklift of choice," Schultz said.