Efficient materials handling is a critical pillar of South Africa’s cold chain, where reliable forklifts, reach stackers and container-handling solutions ensure that temperature-sensitive goods move seamlessly through warehouses, distribution centres, and port terminals. With growing pressure on logistics operators to improve throughput and reduce handling delays, Shumani Industrial Equipment’s new developments for 2026 are poised to support greater reliability and efficiency across the cold chain.
“We are planning to introduce our new port handling equipment in 2026 – the Bheka Reacher Stacker and Empty Container Handlers. We are very excited about what Shumani has for the year ahead,” says managing director Victor Nemukula.
As one of South Africa’s leading black-owned and managed industrial equipment suppliers, Shumani Industrial Equipment is entering 2026 with a clear focus on innovation, efficiency and customer service. Nemukula says the company’s strong performance in 2025 has laid the groundwork for a new phase of growth built on the success of its Bheka range of forklifts.
“Shumani is looking at increasing its market share with the Bheka range of forklifts. We have seen a significant uptake on the new brand, which shows that our strategy to localise and diversify our product offering has been well-received.”
Industry evolution and market outlook
According to Nemukula, South Africa’s materials handling and industrial equipment market has changed significantly in recent years, with growing demand for competitively priced, reliable machinery.
“There has been a major shift in the industry over the past two years, and we expect this trend to continue. Chinese equipment continues to grow its market share in the forklift industry, and with the rand-dollar exchange rate showing signs of stability, we anticipate that unit prices will come down further in 2026.”
This positive macroeconomic movement comes at a time when the broader South African economy is showing gradual signs of recovery. “Eskom has largely been fixed, aside from higher electricity prices, and we are starting to see slow but steady improvements at Transnet,” notes Nemukula.
“These developments could finally unlock economic growth that has been stagnant since the onset of loadshedding in 2008. Since forklifts are the backbone of the economy, we are optimistic about the rebound ahead.”
Consolidation and operational efficiency
Following a year of strong performance and product expansion, Shumani’s immediate focus is on consolidating its market position and improving operational efficiency across its sales and aftermarket divisions.
Says Nemukula, “We have decided to consolidate our current offering rather than add new products in the next 12 months. Instead, we are focusing on taking inefficiencies out of our operations, from sales to aftermarket, so we can deliver even better value to our customers.”
“Customers now have more choice and better pricing than ever before. The ability to be agile and responsive, both in product and service, depends entirely on the technology we use.”
Reflecting on lessons learned in 2025, Nemukula highlights the importance of consistency and operational discipline. “Consistency is key. Keep doing the small things better than anybody else until you are good at them. Success for us in 2026 simply means doing better than we did in 2025,” he says.
Source: Shumani