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Month: September 2021

London Gateway to get fourth berth

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DP World will begin work in October 2021 on a new fourth berth at its London Gateway logistics hub to increase supply chain resilience and create more capacity for the world’s largest vessels.

The £300m sum – which builds on the £2bn investment DP World has made in Britain over the last decade – represents the next step by the provider of smart logistics in delivering integrated supply chain solutions for customers.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “I am delighted to announce that we will go ahead with our latest major investment in the UK, which will give London Gateway more capacity to handle the world’s largest vessels than any other port in the country.

“As a central pillar of Thames Freeport, London Gateway’s new fourth berth will allow even more customers to benefit from world-class ports and logistics, with unrivalled global connectivity, on the doorstep of Europe’s largest consumer market. DP World plans to be at the heart of Britain’s trading future and this investment shows that we have the ambition and the resources to boost growth, support businesses, create jobs and improve living standards.”

Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, was guest of honour at the commercial launch of Thames Freeport at the Savoy Hotel in London. He added: “Our new freeports will create national hubs of trade, innovation and commerce, and attract more investment to regenerate communities and level up the UK.

“Bringing ports and business together to invest in their regions is crucial to the Freeports success story – that’s why I’m thrilled that DP World is investing £300 million to support Thames Freeport – creating new opportunities, boosting growth and supporting local jobs.”

In the first six months of 2021 London Gateway saw record throughput of 888,000 TEU, a more than 23% increase on the previous best performance for the first half of a year. The new fourth berth will raise capacity by one-third and completion will coincide with the delivery of a new wave of 24,000 TEU vessels in 2023/2024, which will all be operated between Asia and Europe.

Along with the Port of Tilbury and Ford’s Dagenham plant, DP World London Gateway will form Thames Freeport after being awarded freeport status by the Government earlier this year, with the partners currently progressing the business case with a view to receiving formal accreditation. DP World Southampton has also been awarded freeport status as part of Solent Freeport, further cementing the critical role of both logistics hubs in the UK’s international trade.

Yale truck ideal for landscaping expert

Posted on by David Priestman

The new Yale UX Series range proved to be the ideal solution for the intermittent needs of German landscaping and horticultural company Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn GmbH.

Cities, towns and villages around the world are witnessing a resurgence in the use of outdoor spaces. They provide a place to unwind, to exercise, and to briefly forget the stresses of everyday life. These spaces don’t just miraculously appear; they require precise planning, regular upkeep and maintenance to remain a source of escapism. It may not be an application that requires a full fleet of materials handling equipment, but it is the perfect challenge to rise to for the new UX Series from Yale Europe Materials Handling.

Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn GmbH was established over 70 years ago. Based in and around Hamburg, it is an expert in the construction of new outdoor spaces, tree pruning, and maintenance. The company also builds children’s playgrounds in schools and public areas, providing new opportunities for kids to get outside for fresh air and have fun. Businesses can also rely on Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn to create tailormade and attractive recreation areas for their employees to enjoy.

Sowing the seeds of an idea

Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn needed to replace an existing truck in its building yard. The company was on the search for good quality machines that performed tasks well, but without superfluous features. To assist with finding the ideal solution, Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn turned to Yale dealer MF Gabelstapler.

“We are careful not to simply sell equipment to our customers; we work with them to find the perfect fit and configure it,” said Bendix Sperber, salesperson at MF Gabelstapler. “We design the solution personally with the customer. It doesn’t matter whether the customer needs a single device or a full fleet, everyone is of equal importance and receives first-class, personalised advice throughout the sales process.”

Taking into consideration the equipment being replaced in the work yard and the budget, both a used truck and a Yale Veracitor VX were suggested in the initial discussion. However, it was during an honest and direct moment during the conversation that it became clear the Yale UX Series was the way forward.

Nurturing the working environment

Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn was convinced by the level of performance of the Yale UX Series, as well as the attractive price. The company had perceived Yale to be a premium brand in the materials handling market, but learned through MF Gabelstapler that Yale offers new trucks for all budgets.

Daniel Hahn, CEO at Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn said: “We’re very pleased with the simple efficiency of the Yale GDP35UX. The Yale UX Series is a reliable all-rounder that can handle our intermittent tasks easily. The price was unbeatable.”

The combination of affordability and the personal service from MF Gabelstapler enabled Yale to plant its first roots with Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn.

Used in the loading and offloading of trucks, the Yale UX Series truck moves a variety of loads around the yard. These are mainly pallets of goods but can often include big bags or, on rare occasions, attachments for the tractors and earthmovers. To enable it to transport these bulky loads with ease, the Yale truck features side shift and fork extensions.

The forklift’s ability to adjust from light to medium use in these occasional activities was a feature that particularly impressed the customer. “We can enjoy the security of the brand-new truck and its associated guarantee, which we wouldn’t have with a used truck,” added Daniel Hahn. “All in all, it was the best possible option for our needs.”

The benefits Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn enjoys from the Yale UX Series filters down to its individual projects. Items move around the yard efficiently, ready to be used for the latest landscaping project or playground construction.

Simply efficient

The Yale UX Series was introduced in 2020 aimed at customers with low-intensity applications. Although they may only be used for short periods at a time, they are designed to provide the high levels of efficiency and productivity associated with the Yale product range. The Yale UX Series can also be the ideal alternative to a used truck.

“For our customers, the offer of a new machine for the price of a used one with extremely attractive features sounds too good to be true – but it is a reality with the Yale UX Series. It was the logical choice for many of our clients who approached us looking for a pre-owned machine. Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn is reaping the rewards of what they have sown with its investment, and its business is blooming,” concluded Bendix Sperber.

Yale truck ideal for landscaping expert

Posted on by David Priestman

The new Yale UX Series range proved to be the ideal solution for the intermittent needs of German landscaping and horticultural company Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn GmbH.

Cities, towns and villages around the world are witnessing a resurgence in the use of outdoor spaces. They provide a place to unwind, to exercise, and to briefly forget the stresses of everyday life. These spaces don’t just miraculously appear; they require precise planning, regular upkeep and maintenance to remain a source of escapism. It may not be an application that requires a full fleet of materials handling equipment, but it is the perfect challenge to rise to for the new UX Series from Yale Europe Materials Handling.

Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn GmbH was established over 70 years ago. Based in and around Hamburg, it is an expert in the construction of new outdoor spaces, tree pruning, and maintenance. The company also builds children’s playgrounds in schools and public areas, providing new opportunities for kids to get outside for fresh air and have fun. Businesses can also rely on Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn to create tailormade and attractive recreation areas for their employees to enjoy.

Sowing the seeds of an idea

Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn needed to replace an existing truck in its building yard. The company was on the search for good quality machines that performed tasks well, but without superfluous features. To assist with finding the ideal solution, Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn turned to Yale dealer MF Gabelstapler.

“We are careful not to simply sell equipment to our customers; we work with them to find the perfect fit and configure it,” said Bendix Sperber, salesperson at MF Gabelstapler. “We design the solution personally with the customer. It doesn’t matter whether the customer needs a single device or a full fleet, everyone is of equal importance and receives first-class, personalised advice throughout the sales process.”

Taking into consideration the equipment being replaced in the work yard and the budget, both a used truck and a Yale Veracitor VX were suggested in the initial discussion. However, it was during an honest and direct moment during the conversation that it became clear the Yale UX Series was the way forward.

Nurturing the working environment

Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn was convinced by the level of performance of the Yale UX Series, as well as the attractive price. The company had perceived Yale to be a premium brand in the materials handling market, but learned through MF Gabelstapler that Yale offers new trucks for all budgets.

Daniel Hahn, CEO at Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn said: “We’re very pleased with the simple efficiency of the Yale GDP35UX. The Yale UX Series is a reliable all-rounder that can handle our intermittent tasks easily. The price was unbeatable.”

The combination of affordability and the personal service from MF Gabelstapler enabled Yale to plant its first roots with Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn.

Used in the loading and offloading of trucks, the Yale UX Series truck moves a variety of loads around the yard. These are mainly pallets of goods but can often include big bags or, on rare occasions, attachments for the tractors and earthmovers. To enable it to transport these bulky loads with ease, the Yale truck features side shift and fork extensions.

The forklift’s ability to adjust from light to medium use in these occasional activities was a feature that particularly impressed the customer. “We can enjoy the security of the brand-new truck and its associated guarantee, which we wouldn’t have with a used truck,” added Daniel Hahn. “All in all, it was the best possible option for our needs.”

The benefits Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn enjoys from the Yale UX Series filters down to its individual projects. Items move around the yard efficiently, ready to be used for the latest landscaping project or playground construction.

Simply efficient

The Yale UX Series was introduced in 2020 aimed at customers with low-intensity applications. Although they may only be used for short periods at a time, they are designed to provide the high levels of efficiency and productivity associated with the Yale product range. The Yale UX Series can also be the ideal alternative to a used truck.

“For our customers, the offer of a new machine for the price of a used one with extremely attractive features sounds too good to be true – but it is a reality with the Yale UX Series. It was the logical choice for many of our clients who approached us looking for a pre-owned machine. Ferdinand Wiese & Sohn is reaping the rewards of what they have sown with its investment, and its business is blooming,” concluded Bendix Sperber.

UK businesses believe Brexit created data challenges

Posted on by David Priestman

More than half of UK businesses (54%) say Brexit has presented them with data access and management challenges, according to research from MuleSoft, an integration and API platform provider. This finding highlights that the challenges of siloed data and skills shortages are being amplified as businesses adapt their operations in response to Brexit.

However, these pains are not just being felt by UK businesses: 40% of German and 39% of French businesses also report that Brexit has made it more difficult for them to access and manage data.

These difficulties have helped fuel the supply chain issues that have prompted recent headlines around product shortages and availability. The findings also suggest that businesses may have a hard time navigating future regulatory changes. While there may currently be close regulatory alignment between the UK and EU, businesses’ inability to unlock and act on data quickly may limit their ability to respond to changes in the future.

“Brexit has laid bare just how underprepared many businesses are for the challenges around data access and management in an increasingly digital economy,” said Justin Wilson, head of UK&I at MuleSoft. “At a time when businesses need to be more agile than ever, the UK’s departure from the EU has made it harder for them to harness the data they need to do just that. There’s also the issue of skills shortages. While digital transformation is at the top of their agenda, the exodus of skilled IT professionals has left many businesses without the resources they need to deliver those projects.”

As businesses continue to adjust to the post-Brexit landscape, they urgently need a more agile approach to integrating data and delivering digital transformation. API-led connectivity will be key to this, enabling businesses to break down data silos and overcome borders, so they can quickly create actionable insights. For instance, APIs can be used to connect supply chain data between multiple stakeholders, so UK and EU businesses can achieve the visibility needed to ensure their products are available where they’re needed and mitigate disruption.

Better still, an API-led approach reimagines digital assets as a network of reusable capabilities that anyone can draw from. This enables a wider range of business users to compose their own innovations without IT’s involvement, improving autonomy, business agility and accelerating digital transformation.

“APIs help businesses to overcome many of the most pressing problems they face in the aftermath of Brexit, because they make the process of drawing disparate data sources together far easier,” continued Wilson. “This more flexible approach to integration also enables businesses to package their digital capabilities as a series of reusable building blocks. Not only does this make businesses more agile for change by removing the need to start digital initiatives from scratch, but it also helps ease the skills burden. Now, anyone within the business – not just the IT team – can draw on these pre-existing IT capabilities to drive digital innovation.”

UK businesses believe Brexit created data challenges

Posted on by Keith McKinley

More than half of UK businesses (54%) say Brexit has presented them with data access and management challenges, according to research from MuleSoft, an integration and API platform provider. This finding highlights that the challenges of siloed data and skills shortages are being amplified as businesses adapt their operations in response to Brexit.

However, these pains are not just being felt by UK businesses: 40% of German and 39% of French businesses also report that Brexit has made it more difficult for them to access and manage data.

These difficulties have helped fuel the supply chain issues that have prompted recent headlines around product shortages and availability. The findings also suggest that businesses may have a hard time navigating future regulatory changes. While there may currently be close regulatory alignment between the UK and EU, businesses’ inability to unlock and act on data quickly may limit their ability to respond to changes in the future.

“Brexit has laid bare just how underprepared many businesses are for the challenges around data access and management in an increasingly digital economy,” said Justin Wilson, head of UK&I at MuleSoft. “At a time when businesses need to be more agile than ever, the UK’s departure from the EU has made it harder for them to harness the data they need to do just that. There’s also the issue of skills shortages. While digital transformation is at the top of their agenda, the exodus of skilled IT professionals has left many businesses without the resources they need to deliver those projects.”

As businesses continue to adjust to the post-Brexit landscape, they urgently need a more agile approach to integrating data and delivering digital transformation. API-led connectivity will be key to this, enabling businesses to break down data silos and overcome borders, so they can quickly create actionable insights. For instance, APIs can be used to connect supply chain data between multiple stakeholders, so UK and EU businesses can achieve the visibility needed to ensure their products are available where they’re needed and mitigate disruption.

Better still, an API-led approach reimagines digital assets as a network of reusable capabilities that anyone can draw from. This enables a wider range of business users to compose their own innovations without IT’s involvement, improving autonomy, business agility and accelerating digital transformation.

“APIs help businesses to overcome many of the most pressing problems they face in the aftermath of Brexit, because they make the process of drawing disparate data sources together far easier,” continued Wilson. “This more flexible approach to integration also enables businesses to package their digital capabilities as a series of reusable building blocks. Not only does this make businesses more agile for change by removing the need to start digital initiatives from scratch, but it also helps ease the skills burden. Now, anyone within the business – not just the IT team – can draw on these pre-existing IT capabilities to drive digital innovation.”

How computer vision technology is enabling micro-fulfilment

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Retailers are now adopting micro-fulfilment strategies for instant consumer gratification and improved product accessibility, as a competitive advantage.

The supply chain industry grew during COVID-19 crisis and so did the need for faster operational processes and automation of human tasks. As part of it, the logistics sector is struggling to meet the growing consumer demands, high labour costs, regulatory measures, and siloed data, whilst complying with a dynamic environment. Complexities woven in the industry are not just occasional but tend to create a ripple effect across the infrastructure. Ultimately, the warehouse workforce strives to meet customers’ requirements by managing incoming orders through multiple layers, regardless of inventory processes.

To improve the last mile of logistics operations, companies started looking into micro-fulfilment. This hybrid model brings the inventory closer to consumers, encompassing traditional technology and automation with in-store picking. Micro-fulfilment ensures quicker product delivery to the end-users, involves efficient tech-based order picking, is easier to establish, and reduces operational costs.

Micro-fulfilment infrastructure relies on automation and, although hardware capabilities are highly relevant, the software is what determines the true value added to the whole process. Such a robust vision software enables the automated picking and stacking of random objects and ensures easy segmentation, classification, and quality control, while suggesting the best way to pick any item varying in shape, size, colour, and position. This allows robots to handle closely stacked or overlapping items, as well as transparent or highly reflective objects. Just as the camera and gripper are the eyes and arms of a robot, the vision software is the brain that translates the image and directs the robot to move accordingly.

Since we are talking about complex technologies in a very dynamic industry, it is essential for system integrators to look for a transparent long-term partnership with companies that empower them to understand the technologies used, rather than a one-time solution provider. This will allow them to remain flexible in a very fast-paced market, avoiding the hardware lock-ins of black-box solutions and ensuring they can always integrate the latest technologies in their systems. The path towards success for system integrators starts with recognising their true challenges, considering alternative solutions to tackle them, and employing the right tools to do so, all while making sure they remain self-reliant.

With trust as a driving factor of long-term success, Fizyr ensures each client receives a robust solution with proven software architecture to facilitate the successful development, management, and maintenance of installations. To stimulate system integrators’ independency, they are encouraged to consider a holistic approach by reflecting on topics, such as:

  • Does the vendor provide a high-quality software that escalates their logistics performance?
  • Will they receive additional services, such as support and maintenance?
  • How experienced, stable, and specialised is the software provider in the global market?
  • How do they manage software deployment processes?

Conclusion

Despite the pandemic, the micro-fulfilment operations are maximising the efficiency of the supply chain industry. The amplified need to incorporate automation technologies is urging companies to modify their logistics strategies for better supply chain management. Warehouse automation is crucial in responding to this growing market economy and having a robust software is pivotal.

System integrators must seek sustainable solutions that best align with their interests, can integrate seamlessly and meet end-users’ expectations. Additionally, partnering up with a software provider with extensive experience in computer vision and software development can improve their overall performance. Fizyr remains dedicated to creating an authentic value for its partners, so they can create cutting-edge logistics solutions for their clients.

Find out more about Fizyr here.

How computer vision technology is enabling micro-fulfilment

Posted on by David Priestman

Retailers are now adopting micro-fulfilment strategies for instant consumer gratification and improved product accessibility, as a competitive advantage.

The supply chain industry grew during COVID-19 crisis and so did the need for faster operational processes and automation of human tasks. As part of it, the logistics sector is struggling to meet the growing consumer demands, high labour costs, regulatory measures, and siloed data, whilst complying with a dynamic environment. Complexities woven in the industry are not just occasional but tend to create a ripple effect across the infrastructure. Ultimately, the warehouse workforce strives to meet customers’ requirements by managing incoming orders through multiple layers, regardless of inventory processes.

To improve the last mile of logistics operations, companies started looking into micro-fulfilment. This hybrid model brings the inventory closer to consumers, encompassing traditional technology and automation with in-store picking. Micro-fulfilment ensures quicker product delivery to the end-users, involves efficient tech-based order picking, is easier to establish, and reduces operational costs.

Micro-fulfilment infrastructure relies on automation and, although hardware capabilities are highly relevant, the software is what determines the true value added to the whole process. Such a robust vision software enables the automated picking and stacking of random objects and ensures easy segmentation, classification, and quality control, while suggesting the best way to pick any item varying in shape, size, colour, and position. This allows robots to handle closely stacked or overlapping items, as well as transparent or highly reflective objects. Just as the camera and gripper are the eyes and arms of a robot, the vision software is the brain that translates the image and directs the robot to move accordingly.

Since we are talking about complex technologies in a very dynamic industry, it is essential for system integrators to look for a transparent long-term partnership with companies that empower them to understand the technologies used, rather than a one-time solution provider. This will allow them to remain flexible in a very fast-paced market, avoiding the hardware lock-ins of black-box solutions and ensuring they can always integrate the latest technologies in their systems. The path towards success for system integrators starts with recognising their true challenges, considering alternative solutions to tackle them, and employing the right tools to do so, all while making sure they remain self-reliant.

With trust as a driving factor of long-term success, Fizyr ensures each client receives a robust solution with proven software architecture to facilitate the successful development, management, and maintenance of installations. To stimulate system integrators’ independency, they are encouraged to consider a holistic approach by reflecting on topics, such as:

  • Does the vendor provide a high-quality software that escalates their logistics performance?
  • Will they receive additional services, such as support and maintenance?
  • How experienced, stable, and specialised is the software provider in the global market?
  • How do they manage software deployment processes?

Conclusion

Despite the pandemic, the micro-fulfilment operations are maximising the efficiency of the supply chain industry. The amplified need to incorporate automation technologies is urging companies to modify their logistics strategies for better supply chain management. Warehouse automation is crucial in responding to this growing market economy and having a robust software is pivotal.

System integrators must seek sustainable solutions that best align with their interests, can integrate seamlessly and meet end-users’ expectations. Additionally, partnering up with a software provider with extensive experience in computer vision and software development can improve their overall performance. Fizyr remains dedicated to creating an authentic value for its partners, so they can create cutting-edge logistics solutions for their clients.

Find out more about Fizyr here.

Doosan launches new reach truck series

Posted on by David Priestman

Doosan has launched a  highly versatile range of productivity enhancing electric reach trucks. Designed by a team of specialist engineers utilising customer feedback, the BR14JW 9-Series combines faster operating speeds with advanced ergonomics and greater driver comfort, making lighter work of heavy warehousing tasks.

As the latest additions to Doosan’s extensive range of warehouse trucks, the new 9-Series electric reach trucks are available in six moving-mast models with capacities between 1,400 and 2,500kg, and in three chassis types: Heavy, Narrow or Standard. All models are equipped with Doosan’s renowned Guardian Stability System and Smart Sensor control, reducing mast oscillation by 40%, for greater stability and safer load handling when operating at heights of up to 13m.

Every warehouse application

Businesses across a broad spectrum of industry – from manufacturing, wholesale distribution and food & drink to engineering, building supplies and transport & warehousing – will benefit from the improved efficiency, speed and performance of Doosan’s latest, 9-Series electric reach trucks. With warehouse space at a premium, maximising available storage space using a narrow-aisle, high-bay configuration combined with Doosan’s latest top performing reach trucks, can transform the capacity and productivity of a warehouse.

Making the most of the narrowest aisle widths, Doosan’s new ultra-compact BR14J-9 and BR16J-9 models are 12% narrower than the previous models, which together with a shorter chassis, offers a much tighter turning radius – allowing the operator to manoeuvre with confidence in aisles under 3m wide.

Providing heavyweight-lifting muscle, the BR20JW-9 and BR25JW-9 heavy models have the capacity to carry loads up to 2t and 2.5t respectively, and the standard BR14JW-9 and BR16JW-9 reach trucks offer all-round value and performance for standard applications.

Maximum productivity

Operational performance has received a boost in Doosan’s 9-Series, with design and engineering improvements delivering 15% faster travel speeds, 20% faster lifting speeds and 10% faster lowering speeds, helping to get the job done more quickly and efficiently.

Maximum manoeuvrability is available to the driver with a choice between 180°or 360° steering. The 360° steering system is easier on arms, wrists and shoulders when changing direction quickly or manoeuvering in tight spaces.

Stronger ergonomics

The sleek looks of the new 9-Series reach trucks are combined with sound ergonomics, taking safety, driver comfort, ease of maintenance and productivity fully into account.

The cab is designed for operator comfort and to reduce fatigue, with a fully adjustable premium Grammer suspension seat as standard, and excellent all-round visibility for safer manoeuvring with greater awareness. An upgraded mast design improves forward visibility and a new diagonal overhead guard offers enhanced visibility of the fork tips when working at height.

Other standard features are: an adjustable steering column, an easy and intuitive instrument panel, a wider armrest and plenty of leg room for driver comfort.

Optional extras include: Pre-height selection, side-shift auto-centring function, auto-tilt levelling, mast laser indicator, fork camera and joystick control.

A growing warehouse range

As part of a major upgrade programme of Doosan’s expansive warehouse truck range, the new 9-Series reach truck complements a growing list of enhanced products, including high-performance pedestrian stackers, powered pallet trucks, and platform double stackers, as well as a huge variety of three and four wheeled electric and IC counterbalance trucks in capacities from 1.3t to 25t. All reflecting the company’s commitment to delivering simple, powerful and robust equipment suited to customer needs.

Standard features across the warehouse range include low-noise and maintenance-free AC motors, electric power steering, regenerative braking, sensitive proportional hydraulics, multi-functional display for monitoring energy and machine status, turtle speed button, hydraulic damper for shock-free load lowering – all combined with a robust, compact chassis that offers high manoeuvrability in tight spaces and designed-in stability for lifting confidence and safety.

The warehouse range is fully supported by Doosan’s worldwide service network and backed-up by genuine Doosan parts, underscoring Doosan’s commitment to maximum performance with minimum downtime.

All new warehouse models reflect Doosan’s renowned design characteristics of compact functional form, high manoeuvrability, durability and rugged, reliable performance.

Ryan Lenihan, Commercial Director at Doosan Industrial Vehicle UK, says: “Productivity within the warehouse is a highly important focus for businesses in manufacturing and retail. Labour availability is under pressure across the UK and customer expectations for service and delivery is unrelenting, so companies need higher performance materials handling equipment to support their plans for productivity gains.

“The scale and scope of Doosan as a large global engineering business enables us to make significant, on-going investment into our warehouse product range – bringing design enhancements, new battery and charging technology upgrades, advanced safety features, and a whole range of performance boosting innovations.

“Our warehouse truck range and new models complement our extensive range of IC engine and electric counterbalance trucks. This is all part of a comprehensive remodelling programme that further supports Doosan’s position as a powerful brand supplying robust and reliable solutions across a broad spectrum of industrial activity – in the yard, the factory and the warehouse.”

Doosan’s all new 9-Series electric reach truck range offers everything a business needs in a reach truck to run a safe, high-performance warehouse.

Doosan launches new reach truck series

Posted on by David Priestman

Doosan has launched a  highly versatile range of productivity enhancing electric reach trucks. Designed by a team of specialist engineers utilising customer feedback, the BR14JW 9-Series combines faster operating speeds with advanced ergonomics and greater driver comfort, making lighter work of heavy warehousing tasks.

As the latest additions to Doosan’s extensive range of warehouse trucks, the new 9-Series electric reach trucks are available in six moving-mast models with capacities between 1,400 and 2,500kg, and in three chassis types: Heavy, Narrow or Standard. All models are equipped with Doosan’s renowned Guardian Stability System and Smart Sensor control, reducing mast oscillation by 40%, for greater stability and safer load handling when operating at heights of up to 13m.

Every warehouse application

Businesses across a broad spectrum of industry – from manufacturing, wholesale distribution and food & drink to engineering, building supplies and transport & warehousing – will benefit from the improved efficiency, speed and performance of Doosan’s latest, 9-Series electric reach trucks. With warehouse space at a premium, maximising available storage space using a narrow-aisle, high-bay configuration combined with Doosan’s latest top performing reach trucks, can transform the capacity and productivity of a warehouse.

Making the most of the narrowest aisle widths, Doosan’s new ultra-compact BR14J-9 and BR16J-9 models are 12% narrower than the previous models, which together with a shorter chassis, offers a much tighter turning radius – allowing the operator to manoeuvre with confidence in aisles under 3m wide.

Providing heavyweight-lifting muscle, the BR20JW-9 and BR25JW-9 heavy models have the capacity to carry loads up to 2t and 2.5t respectively, and the standard BR14JW-9 and BR16JW-9 reach trucks offer all-round value and performance for standard applications.

Maximum productivity

Operational performance has received a boost in Doosan’s 9-Series, with design and engineering improvements delivering 15% faster travel speeds, 20% faster lifting speeds and 10% faster lowering speeds, helping to get the job done more quickly and efficiently.

Maximum manoeuvrability is available to the driver with a choice between 180°or 360° steering. The 360° steering system is easier on arms, wrists and shoulders when changing direction quickly or manoeuvering in tight spaces.

Stronger ergonomics

The sleek looks of the new 9-Series reach trucks are combined with sound ergonomics, taking safety, driver comfort, ease of maintenance and productivity fully into account.

The cab is designed for operator comfort and to reduce fatigue, with a fully adjustable premium Grammer suspension seat as standard, and excellent all-round visibility for safer manoeuvring with greater awareness. An upgraded mast design improves forward visibility and a new diagonal overhead guard offers enhanced visibility of the fork tips when working at height.

Other standard features are: an adjustable steering column, an easy and intuitive instrument panel, a wider armrest and plenty of leg room for driver comfort.

Optional extras include: Pre-height selection, side-shift auto-centring function, auto-tilt levelling, mast laser indicator, fork camera and joystick control.

A growing warehouse range

As part of a major upgrade programme of Doosan’s expansive warehouse truck range, the new 9-Series reach truck complements a growing list of enhanced products, including high-performance pedestrian stackers, powered pallet trucks, and platform double stackers, as well as a huge variety of three and four wheeled electric and IC counterbalance trucks in capacities from 1.3t to 25t. All reflecting the company’s commitment to delivering simple, powerful and robust equipment suited to customer needs.

Standard features across the warehouse range include low-noise and maintenance-free AC motors, electric power steering, regenerative braking, sensitive proportional hydraulics, multi-functional display for monitoring energy and machine status, turtle speed button, hydraulic damper for shock-free load lowering – all combined with a robust, compact chassis that offers high manoeuvrability in tight spaces and designed-in stability for lifting confidence and safety.

The warehouse range is fully supported by Doosan’s worldwide service network and backed-up by genuine Doosan parts, underscoring Doosan’s commitment to maximum performance with minimum downtime.

All new warehouse models reflect Doosan’s renowned design characteristics of compact functional form, high manoeuvrability, durability and rugged, reliable performance.

Ryan Lenihan, Commercial Director at Doosan Industrial Vehicle UK, says: “Productivity within the warehouse is a highly important focus for businesses in manufacturing and retail. Labour availability is under pressure across the UK and customer expectations for service and delivery is unrelenting, so companies need higher performance materials handling equipment to support their plans for productivity gains.

“The scale and scope of Doosan as a large global engineering business enables us to make significant, on-going investment into our warehouse product range – bringing design enhancements, new battery and charging technology upgrades, advanced safety features, and a whole range of performance boosting innovations.

“Our warehouse truck range and new models complement our extensive range of IC engine and electric counterbalance trucks. This is all part of a comprehensive remodelling programme that further supports Doosan’s position as a powerful brand supplying robust and reliable solutions across a broad spectrum of industrial activity – in the yard, the factory and the warehouse.”

Doosan’s all new 9-Series electric reach truck range offers everything a business needs in a reach truck to run a safe, high-performance warehouse.

Hyster Li-ion forklifts overcome tough industry challenges

Posted on by David Priestman

The Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL counterbalance lift truck powered by integrated lithium-ion technology is available now to support industry applications that demand high efficiency, charging flexibility, and zero battery maintenance.

Engineered around a fully integrated and space-saving lithium-ion battery, the J2.5-3.0XNL series is at the forefront of innovation, with a design that helps free space in the operator compartment, maximising comfort, and convenience to enable high productivity. A choice of four truck models is available, for lifts up to three tonnes.

“Electric lift trucks, particularly lithium-ion forklifts, are sometimes presumed less well suited to demanding industries or outdoor applications compared to IC trucks,” says Phil Ireland, Programme Leader 20/20 Platform for Hyster Europe. “While diesel and LPG trucks are often a great fit in intensive operations, the zero-emissions Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL series can be an equally powerful addition to the fleet in many industry applications.”

Clean for Food and Beverage

In food and beverage processing, manufacture, and storage applications, lift trucks are commonly found transporting and stacking pallets within an indoor warehouse. Cleanliness is non-negotiable for preventing contamination as suppliers must meet certain standards to ensure that food safety and quality are guaranteed. Thanks to the lithium-ion battery, lift trucks from the Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL series have no fumes or acid, which could result in a spill.

The lithium-ion battery is fully integrated and does not need to be removed from the truck for charging. No lead acid batteries need to be stored on site and as the batteries are ‘maintenance free’, they also require no watering, cleaning, or equalising. Both factors again reduce potential contact with contaminants on a clean site.

Health, pharmaceutical, and paper manufacturing operations which demand high hygiene standards will also enjoy these benefits.

Food and beverage applications also need lift trucks they can depend on for toughness. As well as needing to cope with seasonal demands, materials handling equipment is often exposed to extreme temperatures when handling cold or frozen goods. Lithium-ion batteries perform well in both warm and cool environments, giving operations the flexibility to use the lift truck wherever it is needed across the entire operation.

Maximising uptime in Logistics

Logistics operations are usually high intensity, multi-shift operations that demand round the clock truck availability and maximum uptime. With fast charging times of just 1-2 hours, the Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL series lift trucks provide an effective solution for increasing operational uptime. High hour operations will often find that, despite the greater upfront investment, lithium-ion forklifts prove an economical choice over time compared to other power options.

“Opportunity charging of the lithium-ion batteries enables the J2.5-3.0XNL trucks to top up on power during break times, with no adverse effect on battery life,” says Phil. “This alternative charging strategy also saves valuable space. Where real estate is increasingly expensive, there is no need to allocate space for battery storage, or as a charging room, so more of the building footprint can be used for profitable activities.”

Plus, the design of the Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL helps free space in the operator compartment, maximising comfort, and convenience to enable the high productivity that is so essential to logistics applications.

Automotive

Bringing lithium-ion power to cars is a focus for many automotive manufacturers, and many could also benefit from using integrated lithium-ion lift trucks in their materials handling operations.

Automotive manufacturers are early adopters of technology, and keen to embrace greener power solutions. The Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL series enables automotive applications to achieve zero forklift emissions, while also benefitting from fast and flexible charging compared to lead-acid batteries. As it is possible to charge the integrated lithium-ion batteries easily during breaks, uptime is maximised across multiple shifts, meeting time-pressures and delivering high productivity.

Space saving and increased shop floor utilisation are also a key focus for automotive manufacturing and parts distribution applications. The compact design of the Hyster J2.5-3.0XNL forklifts helps deliver high performance even in these constrained areas, supporting precise retrieval and delivery of parts at the right time and in sequence.

Toughness for heavy materials handling

Operations such as DIY retailers are challenged to handle heavy palletised construction materials, where damage avoidance is key. The Hyster J2.5-J3.0XNL series provides a reliable solution, ideally suited for stacking inside a clean warehouse, loading lorries, or transporting pallets outdoors. Prefabricated metals and machine parts manufacturing can expect similar benefits.

The compact Hyster J2.5-J3.0XNL series can also prove helpful for operations loading and unloading containers with raw materials, such as in port and terminal applications. Due to the space-saving design, a lowered seat and floor plate provides easy ingress and egress from the truck, helping operators keep up with fast moving operations.

“The switch to lithium-ion powered electric trucks is a big business decision and may require changes to infrastructure and a new charging strategy,” says Phil. “However, forward-thinking companies with high intensity operations will not only be able to take advantage of productivity and cost benefits but use zero-emissions lift trucks that align with their sustainability objectives too.”

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