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Day: 4 July 2024

Versatile Pallet Stackers for Warehouses

Posted on by Keith McKinley

With the Linde L10 – L16 B pallet stacker, Linde Material Handling (MH) is launching a new, extremely compact pedestrian truck. Offering load capacities of 1.0 to 1.6 tons and lift heights of up to 5.47 meters, the models are designed for a very wide range of handling tasks in warehouses and production environments. Their compact design also makes them ideal helpers when it comes to handling goods in narrow aisles and loading zones. Two other models are capable of moving pallets with closed bases and various types of small containers.

“Hardly any other product group in the warehouse equipment segment is as versatile as the manual electric pallet stackers,” says Marc Castro, Portfolio Manager Warehouse Trucks at Linde Material Handling. These proven all-rounders cover a wide range of warehouse applications: They stack and move pallets in staging areas and in buffer zones and transport materials to production lines, they store and retrieve goods and help with replenishment in supermarkets, and they can also be used as work bench. Whatever the application, the manoeuvrability of the vehicles is critical because space is almost always an issue – whether in marshalling areas, in narrow aisles or at the assembly line. “Each centimeter reduction in truck length helps the driver get the load to its destination more quickly and safely,” explains product expert Castro.

Flexible application options

For this reason, special attention was paid to the dimensions of the Linde electric pallet stacker series. “They are among the most compact models in the entire competitive environment,” emphasizes Castro. The shortest version of the Linde L10 B, equipped with an integrated lithium-ion battery and a simplex mast, measures just 568 millimeters from the chassis to the fork carriage (l2 dimension), with a turning radius of 1,420 millimeters. The model series is also available with a battery tray and lead-acid batteries with rated capacities of 200Ah and 250Ah as well as lithium-ion batteries with capacities from 3kWh to 6kWh. In addition to a variety of different chargers, the vehicles can optionally be equipped with an integrated charger, which enables intermediate charging at any power outlet.

But that’s not all. “The new Linde pallet stackers are designed with the overarching goal of being one truck for all conceivable requirements,” emphasizes Castro. To achieve this, five different mast types are available to adapt the trucks to individual conditions in the customer’s company. In addition, there is a wide range of equipment options to ensure that sales consultants can configure the trucks for every application: The initial lift provides more ground clearance when negotiating uneven surfaces and driving over ramps while the double-decker function, for example, allows the simultaneous transport of two pallets over longer distances. The Linde L10 – L12 AS straddle stackers with 1.0 and 1.2 ton load capacity are available for handling pallets with closed bases or special load carriers.

Safety, ergonomics and fleet management offer multiple advantages

Two key elements are essential for achieving productivity: maximum operating comfort and tailored safety equipment that protects the operator, the load and the warehouse infrastructure. The Linde-typical asymmetric tiller head proves its worth in this respect, automatically keeping the operator within the truck contours. Additionally, the long tiller arm ensures that the operator is at a safe distance from the truck when it is in motion, traveling at speeds of up to 6 km/h. The deep-drawn chassis also enhances safety by preventing the operator’s feet from being trapped under the low steel skirt. The active foot bumper is a new equipment option. It senses contact and automatically brakes the truck in response. Another variant actively moves the truck away from the operator in the event of contact.

The Linde Load Management system is available in two versions. In the standard variant, the system determines the load weight on the forks. The advanced version additionally monitors the remaining load capacity in real time and alerts the operator to critical conditions with visual and audible warnings. If the load weight exceeds the maximum load capacity, the system blocks the lift function, preventing further lifting. Travel speed and acceleration are also controlled based on lift height, load weight and steering angle. Another important feature is networking with two-way data transmission: This allows software upgrades and remote diagnostics ‘over the air’, increasing vehicle uptime.

read more

New Stackers to Handle Over Loading Plates or Uneven Ground

 

Enterprise-Grade Asset Tag Provides Increased Visibility

Posted on by David Priestman

Samsara Inc. has announced the industry’s first enterprise-grade Asset Tag designed to meet customer demand for tracking and managing small, high-value assets. This new device leverages the Samsara Network to offer increased visibility into the location of mission-critical equipment and tools. As a result, organizations can minimize downtime spent searching for lost or stolen items, reduce associated costs, and simplify inventory management.

The industries that power our global economy – like transportation, oil and gas, and construction – have complex operations that rely on specialized assets to get their work done each day. These assets include toolboxes, jackhammers, chemical totes, and more. Due to manual inventory processes and a lack of connected systems, the recurring loss or theft of these materials can cost organizations millions of dollars every year.

But as sensors get more compact, sophisticated, and easier to install, they can track anything – big or small. Samsara’s Asset Tag (pictured below) was built around this opportunity: to provide unprecedented access and visibility into valuable assets at scale. By connecting critical assets to the cloud for the first time, customers can now easily capture and analyze location insights to significantly improve operational efficiency.

The Pike Corporation is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions for electric and gas utility companies within the United States. Pike uses the Samsara platform across Vehicle Telematics, Video-Based Safety, and Asset Tracking to connect their operations. Most recently, Pike has begun testing Samsara’s Asset Tag to help recover misplaced or lost tools and equipment and accurately track safety PPE to comply with annual OSHA testing requirements.

“We have several high-value assets like service gloves and electrical grounds that don’t have serial numbers, but still need to be tracked, managed, and inspected to remain compliant,” said James Banner, Senior Vice President of Administration at Pike Electric. “Previously misplaced equipment would take us weeks to locate and if lost entirely, cost up to a million dollars to replace annually. With Samsara’s Asset Tags, we are hoping to minimize this downtime, cut costs, and digitize manual inspection processes – all while keeping our employees safe and efficient. We’re just getting started with this technology and I look forward to seeing what else it can do.”

With the Samsara Asset Tag, organizations can expect to:
● Prevent loss and recover stolen assets: with advanced location tracking technology powered by Samsara’s vast network of gateways.
● Reduce downtime and boost productivity: by sharing asset locations with technicians in the field via the Samsara Driver App and avoid service disruptions with Inventory Filtering, which pulls a summary of assets and applies filters to identify which tools are in close proximity.
● Better manage inventory: and increase operational efficiency with a consolidated dashboard and easy-to-use reporting.

Powerful location tracking capabilities within the Asset Tag are enabled by the Samsara Network, made up of millions of IoT devices worldwide. This network coverage powered by Samsara devices leverages industrial-grade BLE technology and offers enterprise reliability designed to withstand the ruggedized, complex environments of physical operations.

“About a year ago, the Asset Tag was born from a radical idea that we could use the millions of Samsara Gateways we have out in the field to create a network, enabling ‘tags’ to ping off those devices. With this, we’d unlock a level of asset tracking that was previously impossible and solve even more real-world problems for our customers,” explained David Gal, Vice President, Product and Engineering at Samsara. “After months of rigorous testing and customer feedback, I’m excited to see this vision become a reality. As we further connect every aspect of physical operations, we can turn massive amounts of data into valuable insights and drive real results.”

Asset Tag is shipping now to customers across North America and Europe.

read more

Samsara Unveils New Solutions at Beyond ’24

 

Empowering BEV Driving Trainers

Posted on by David Priestman

Today, the quality of road transportation services relies heavily on the skills and expertise of truck drivers. With educational programs, repeated training, and course upgrades, drivers can not only provide exceptional services to clients but also make the experience of logistics services smoother, more positive and professional. The same principle applies to sustainable transport solutions.

To equip the drivers of the largest asset-based company in Europe, Girteka, with the knowledge necessary to operate a battery-electric truck (BEV), knew that driver trainers had to be prepared first. They received individual training on BEV technology and daily utilization.

The company’s Drivers’ Academy trainers and truck drivers spoke with an expert from Volvo, and together reviewed one the manufacturer’s battery-electric trucks’ model. They also had the chance to test drive the truck and get familiar with the main differences and new features of the electric vehicle compared to a conventional diesel truck.

Comfortable Silence

“The electric truck made a huge impression. It does not feel like you are driving a truck; you almost do not hear anything,” says Singaras Čepaitis, Drivers Training Team Lead. The silence inside and outside the truck is one of the most mentioned differences between today’s battery-electric vehicles and trucks with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Trainers have concluded that BEVs provide a much better working environment, with less noise to interrupt or irritate drivers while delivering cargo.

“Driving the truck is very easy, as there are no significant differences. The control is very similar to a diesel truck, which will allow the driver to get used to the controls more quickly,” Čepaitis continues.

Continuous Learning

Maintaining a high level of proficiency among truck drivers is critical to delivering exceptional logistics services to clients. This requires not only thorough preparation and execution but also continuous collaboration with manufacturers and robust internal training programs.

“We understand that to achieve professional excellence, we must first empower our trainers with the necessary knowledge and skills. By working closely with manufacturers like Volvo, we ensure our trainers receive the most up-to-date information and hands-on experience with BEVs,” explains Andrius Žukauskas, Head of E-Mobility at Girteka.

This approach allows the trainers to effectively pass on their expertise to the rest of the company’s 12,000 drivers, ensuring they are well-prepared to operate these advanced vehicles.

Importance of Sustainable Solutions

The adoption of BEVs is a significant step towards sustainable logistics, necessitating the sector to be well-prepared for their effective use. Recognizing that the successful integration of BEVs into operations requires a comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and optimal usage strategies, Girteka reflects this in advanced training programs and by providing opportunities for real-life experiences.

“These training sessions are essential as we expand our BEV fleet, ensuring we maintain our high service standards. This initiative highlights our dedication to both environmental responsibility and professional excellence,” comments Žukauskas, adding that, “Empowering our trainers with the latest knowledge ensures that we are well-prepared to meet the evolving needs of our logistics operations and provide the best available customer experience.”

read more

Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles in Action

 

Empowering BEV Driving Trainers

Posted on by David Priestman

Today, the quality of road transportation services relies heavily on the skills and expertise of truck drivers. With educational programs, repeated training, and course upgrades, drivers can not only provide exceptional services to clients but also make the experience of logistics services smoother, more positive and professional. The same principle applies to sustainable transport solutions.

To equip the drivers of the largest asset-based company in Europe, Girteka, with the knowledge necessary to operate a battery-electric truck (BEV), knew that driver trainers had to be prepared first. They received individual training on BEV technology and daily utilization.

The company’s Drivers’ Academy trainers and truck drivers spoke with an expert from Volvo, and together reviewed one the manufacturer’s battery-electric trucks’ model. They also had the chance to test drive the truck and get familiar with the main differences and new features of the electric vehicle compared to a conventional diesel truck.

Comfortable Silence

“The electric truck made a huge impression. It does not feel like you are driving a truck; you almost do not hear anything,” says Singaras Čepaitis, Drivers Training Team Lead. The silence inside and outside the truck is one of the most mentioned differences between today’s battery-electric vehicles and trucks with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Trainers have concluded that BEVs provide a much better working environment, with less noise to interrupt or irritate drivers while delivering cargo.

“Driving the truck is very easy, as there are no significant differences. The control is very similar to a diesel truck, which will allow the driver to get used to the controls more quickly,” Čepaitis continues.

Continuous Learning

Maintaining a high level of proficiency among truck drivers is critical to delivering exceptional logistics services to clients. This requires not only thorough preparation and execution but also continuous collaboration with manufacturers and robust internal training programs.

“We understand that to achieve professional excellence, we must first empower our trainers with the necessary knowledge and skills. By working closely with manufacturers like Volvo, we ensure our trainers receive the most up-to-date information and hands-on experience with BEVs,” explains Andrius Žukauskas, Head of E-Mobility at Girteka.

This approach allows the trainers to effectively pass on their expertise to the rest of the company’s 12,000 drivers, ensuring they are well-prepared to operate these advanced vehicles.

Importance of Sustainable Solutions

The adoption of BEVs is a significant step towards sustainable logistics, necessitating the sector to be well-prepared for their effective use. Recognizing that the successful integration of BEVs into operations requires a comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and optimal usage strategies, Girteka reflects this in advanced training programs and by providing opportunities for real-life experiences.

“These training sessions are essential as we expand our BEV fleet, ensuring we maintain our high service standards. This initiative highlights our dedication to both environmental responsibility and professional excellence,” comments Žukauskas, adding that, “Empowering our trainers with the latest knowledge ensures that we are well-prepared to meet the evolving needs of our logistics operations and provide the best available customer experience.”

read more

Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles in Action

 

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