Day: 4 November 2019

Clark has extended its range of counterbalance forklifts with internal combustion engines. Under the model name C80D900, the industrial truck specialist is launching a new diesel forklift version with a load capacity of eight tons at 900 mm load center. The vehicle now takes its place in the existing C60-80 series with load capacities of six to eight tons.

Like all Clark vehicles, the C80D900 has been designed in accordance with the proven ‘built-to-last’ concept, which stands for solid, functional design with high-quality components. This includes a fully welded robust frame, a sturdy steering axle, and robust lifting gear with a solid eight-roller fork carriage with four side support rollers. The lifting cylinder and the quiet lifting hydraulics ensure gentle, low-noise load handling at lifting heights of up to 6,030 mm (with triplex uprights). And this diesel forklift also scores with a remaining lifting capacity which is 25 per cent higher.

To achieve this, Clark has designed the forklift to be much more robust for intensive deployment with heavy loads: the vehicle has a redesigned drive axle, the frame and upright have been reinforced, and the counterbalance has been made 500 kg heavier. That means the forklift is made for tough outdoor deployment, for example in the construction industry, the building materials trade and wood processing, the metalworking industry, the paper and beverage industries and carriers and logistics companies.

The Deutz TD 3.6 l engine, developing 55.4 kW at 2,300 rpm and a maximum driving speed of up to 29.4 km/h, ensures powerful acceleration and reliable operation. The vehicle is fitted as standard with a fully automatic 3-speed gearbox (‘Power Shift’). That enables a smooth, instantaneous gearshift and safe maneuvering. Because the engine, gearbox and drive axle are all decoupled, vibration and noise are reduced to a minimum.

Like all the forklifts in this series, the standard C80D900 is fitted with low-maintenance wet multi-disc brakes as service brakes and an independent drum brake as the locking brake. This makes it possible to brake gently and sensitively. The low wear and tear on the brakes guarantees a long service life, which has a positive effect on running costs.

For a forklift with a load capacity of eight tons, the C80D900 distinguishes itself by its comparatively sleek lifting gear profile. It also has large wide-vision windows on all sides. These give the driver excellent all-round vision and an unrestricted view of the load and the fork carriage. This is made possible by the well thought-out layout of the chains and hoses on the lifting gear. To ensure good vision with triplex uprights too, Clark has fitted this truck with two primary cylinders. For work in very confined spaces and critical areas of the warehouse, safety is improved by the optional reversing camera or the new 360-degree camera system Clark SafeView@360.

Ease of maintenance and driver comfort are also key considerations on the new vehicle, which is available in many options.

 

 

Narrow Aisle Ltd has produced its 10,000th Flexi warehouse truck. The landmark machine is a Flexi ACiON – the company’s latest full digital control, very narrow aisle articulated model. It has been specified by a third party logistics (3PL) services company and will be deployed at a warehousing operation near Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia.
Narrow Aisle managing director, John Maguire (above), commented: “The production of the 10,000th Flexi VNA warehouse truck is a significant milestone in the history of our company.”

He continues: “Since Narrow Aisle pioneered the concept of articulated warehouse trucks, articulated VNA technology has come squarely into the intralogistics solutions mainstream and, in the process, Flexi has become a world-renowned brand.

“These days, Narrow Aisle is a leader in the manufacturer of articulated warehouse trucks with customers as far afield as the USA, Korea, India, China and South Africa all operating Flexi trucks that have been designed and engineered at our UK manufacturing facility at Tipton, in the heart of the Midlands.”

The Flexi’s iconic articulated design allows the trucks to operate efficiently and safely within the narrowest racking aisles allowing more of a warehouse or distribution centre’s space to be used for valuable storage locations.
“In today’s logistics-lead global e-commerce economy the Flexi concept is exactly what many customers are looking for,” says John Maguire.

The Flexi ACiON collection was launched at the recent IMHX trade fair in the UK and, with all drive, hydraulic and power-steering motor functions controlled digitally, the range is described as a ‘tour de force’ in articulated lift truck technology.

Full digital control means that all models are ultra energy efficient: regenerative energy produced every time the truck’s mast is raised or lowered, as well as during forward and reverse travel and by movement of the steering wheel, feeds back to the battery to maximise the time the truck can perform between battery changes or charges. Noise levels are significantly reduced and steering and mast control operations – whether using the lift/lower or sideshift functions – are carried out with optimum precision at all times.

Published today, Toyota Material Handling Europe, part of Toyota Industries Europe, a fully owned subsidiary of Toyota Industries Corporation, launched its fourth sustainability report. The report provides a transparent and detailed overview of the company’s sustainability commitments towards maximising quality and customer safety, optimising opportunities for people to thrive and minimising environmental impact.

“Zero Muda is our vision, as quality is key to keep business moving. It applies to how we work with our business partners, our people, and with the environment. So let’s strive together towards zero breakdowns, zero accidents and zero emissions,” says Matthias Fischer, President and CEO at Toyota Material Handling Europe.

With this fourth sustainability report, Toyota Material Handling Europe confirms its firm ambition in becoming an industry leader by partnering with suppliers, academia, and start-ups to achieve their sustainability goals. Toyota Material Handling Europe endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is a partner of EU-OSHA on their Healthy Workplaces Campaigns since 2010. Since 2019, its owner, Toyota Industries Corporation in Japan, is one of less than 40 corporations globally with a double A-rating from CDP, the world’s leading ranking for corporate environmental performance.

Recently EcoVadis, a third-party evaluation to streamline transparency, has rewarded Toyota Material Handling Europe and 15 of their 24 local entities with the EcoVadis Gold level, setting Gold as a minimum standard for all of Toyota Material Handling by 2021 and confirming its leading position in sustainability in Europe.

Since 1993, Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) has been one of the first companies committed to implement the Kyoto Protocol. Due to their systematic approach, CO2 emissions across their 4 largest factories in Europe have decreased by 2,321 tonnes. Achieving 20% less annual emissions than in 2012, while production nearly doubled over the same period. This is one of the many reasons Toyota Material Handling Europe and 10 of its subsidiaries achieved “outstanding” or “advanced” rating of their Environmental management practices by EcoVadis.

Andreas Folz will assume the role of Sales Director for the ELOKON Group as of October 2019. He brings with him er 20 years of sales and management expertise with global companies and is also an experienced coach and motivator. Folz and his sales team will advance the international growth of this supplier of safety and assistance systems for intralogistics and automation technology. He will also support the strategic development of the ELOKON group of companies.

Andreas Folz was responsible for international sales for the last nine years at BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH, and he has also previously been managing director of several national companies. “Andreas Folz has a wealth of expertise in intralogistics solutions and in our target markets,” said Alexander Glasmacher, Managing Director of ELOKON Holding. “This newly created position of International Sales Manager will enable us to consistently pursue our strategy for worldwide growth over the next few years.”

From its base in Germany and subsidiaries in the USA, UK and Poland, ELOKON has enjoyed substantial expansion in recent years, thanks in particular to its product development of safety and assistance systems and automation technology.