In any given industrial facility, retail store, storage unit or, indeed, any business where the day-to-day activity involves lifting and moving palletised loads quickly and safely you will almost certainly see a hand pallet truck. Sometimes referred to as ‘pump trucks’ or ‘pallet jacks’, there are millions of hand pallet trucks in operation worldwide. But not all hand pallet trucks are created equal.
The original hand pallet truck (HPT) is said to have appeared towards the end of the 19th century when the industrial revolution was at its height. However, the HPT that most people are familiar with today was developed and launched by Toyota in 1947.
Hand pallet trucks are operated manually by hand – in other words they do not feature any kind of mechanical or engine-powered assistance to travel or raise and lower a load. Heavy loads are picked up and manoeuvred effortlessly thanks to the inclusion of a hydraulic pump in the design of the HPT.
The ability to move loads without the use of fuel or any other energy source means HPTs have stood the test of time across many industries. Their lower-emission proposition can also be attractive to companies as they strive to hit environmental targets. In addition, the lack of refuelling time means operations carried out with a HPT can be seamless.
And to further enhance its top selling HPT models’ benefits, Toyota Lifter and Pro Lifters use SSAB Zero™ steel throughout the hand pallet truck production process. The material in the forks and frame of the high-volume product LHM230 are able to be replaced by SSAB Zero™ steel, which has a 77% reduction of CO2 compared to iron-ore based steel, considering the entire value chain.
The wide range of hand pallet trucks available includes models with lift capacities from 750 to 3000kg. To make sure that each user’s unique needs are catered for, the company offers a choice of options. For example, a model can be supplied for wet or corrosive environments, or even silent models, perfect for use in quiet operations. With 20 variants of hand pallet truck available as standard, there’s a solution for most applications.
In work-cycle tests the Toyota Lifter has been shown to last up to five times as long as competing trucks and such is Toyota’s confidence in the build quality of its HPT range that every model’s fork frame comes with a market leading 99-year guarantee. Replacing trucks less often also has great environmental benefits, with fewer old HPTs being scrapped.
Despite relentless advances in the development of ever-more energy efficient handling solutions, there are few methods of moving palletised loads that can match the lower-emission hand pallet truck for environmental efficiency.
