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Tag: forklift technology

Snack producer reduces forklift fleet size

Posted on by David Priestman

Toyota Material Handling UK has helped the award-winning premium snack producer, Burts Snacks, to reduce intralogistics costs and achieve significant handling efficiency gains across its business.

During a review of the company’s materials handling operation, Toyota identified that by replacing counterbalance machines with multi-functional reach trucks capable of operating outside a building, Burts Snacks could not only reduce the number of forklifts within its fleet – with a resultant drop in maintenance expenditure – but also boost productivity and improve on-site safety.

Burts Snacks manufactures its growing range of own-brand, licensed and private label snacks from sites in Plymouth and Leicester. At both facilities, Toyota recommended switching counterbalance trucks for Toyota Reflex outdoor reach trucks.

The Toyota Reflex outdoor reach truck has greater ground clearance than traditional models, which along with rubber wheels with tread and a revised gearbox configuration, allows it to work in yards, block-stacking, servicing outdoor racking and loading and unloading vehicles from the side.

It can also perform inside a building and at Burts Snacks’ Plymouth site, the trucks are fitted with Kooi extra-long forks with fork cameras to allow pallet loads to be put away within the storage unit’s double-deep racking scheme.

In addition, Toyota provided a mix of electric counterbalance models, powered pallet trucks and order pickers.

The equipment at both sites has been supplied on a long-term rental contract that includes service and maintenance.

Burts Snacks’ warehouse manager, Daniel Cresswell, originally approached Toyota to supply new, ultra-energy efficient trucks to replace a number of existing electric-powered counterbalance models that had been underutilised for some time and were nearing the end of their fixed contract period.

“After seeing the Toyota proposition for our fleet, it was a simple decision for us,” Cresswell says.

All of Burts Snacks’ new machines feature Toyota’s I_Site integrated telematics package as standard. The I_Site system allows truck operating hours to be closely monitored along with battery utilisation across the fleet. This feature has been particularly beneficial at the Plymouth site where the trucks are powered by a combination of Nexus fast charge, lithium-ion and lead acid batteries.

“The I_Site system monitors the forklift’s battery and highlights if the power source is being managed incorrectly. For example, if a lead acid battery is opportunity charged, this can cause significant implications to the battery. The I_Site technology can identify this before any harm is done,” says Cresswell.

I_Site also provides valuable data on the efficiency and safety of Burts Snacks’ lift truck operators, as Cresswell explains: “Because each operator requires his or her own PIN code or smart access card to operate a truck, they quickly realise that they are accountable for their actions during the course of a shift. We find that this accountability prompts forklift drivers to take more care when going about their daily routine, which of course, in turn, results in a safer environment and reduced product, truck or building infrastructure damage.”

Digital innovations for lift truck maintenance

Posted on by David Priestman

Konecranes’ latest digital solutions allow lift trucks customers to monitor the status and usage of their assets. They can act upon different conditions, reducing equipment downtime and scheduling operations activities with just a few mouse clicks, using the yourKONECRANES Customer portal.

Today, the majority of Konecranes customers are operating with smart connected equipment. With TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring as telematic solution on their lift trucks, and yourKONECRANES.com as digital experience platform, lift trucks customers can monitor the condition and use of their assets to get valuable insights to turn into immediate action, increasing both productivity and operational efficiency.

yourKONECRANES asset maintenance planner does not only provide customers with maintenance forecast, but guides them to the correct maintenance actions, and further helps planning and carrying out actions in a timely and effective way.

Customers benefit from the list of parts needed for their maintenance activities and a time estimation for each checkpoint, optimising the usage of time and resources efficiently.

This new forecasting service monitors metrics such as hydraulic oil aging and tyre pressure, exemplifying Konecranes’ direction towards a fully condition-based maintenance philosophy.

“Our digital solutions have been very popular with our customers and these new services will engage them even more,” says Bertrand Marion, Director, Business Development and Digitalization at Konecranes Lift Trucks. “Having a full view of the fleet performance with KPIs and reports is a big advantage for customers. They will gain important insights on how to systematically improve their operations and overall equipment effectiveness.”

Another exciting new development for Konecranes digital services is the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for information security management, received in July. This demonstrates that the company follows internationally-recognised data security management practices, to maintain data availability and security from its collection to access. Whether it is on yourKONECRANES.com customer portal, productivity-enhancing mobile applications, or through TRUCONNECT remote service products, customers can be confident that the data they exchange with Konecranes systems is secure. Maintaining the highest level of cybersecurity to protect asset and business data is the main goal.

But this is not just about data; it’s also about the use of equipment and safety. The system follows the “security by design” concept, where specific software development practices ensure that high security risks are identified and eliminated in each phase of the software development lifecycle, and never reach the production phase.

“At Konecranes, we understand our customers’ enthusiasm for innovation, especially digital solutions that lead to clear results,” says Andreas Falk, Senior Vice President, Konecranes Lift Trucks. “Forecasting and comparison in a secure online environment are both valuable tools that help businesses build and maintain their future success.”

UgoWork presents Li-ion as a service at MODEX

Posted on by David Priestman

UgoWork, a Canadian energy solutions provider specialising in the material handling industry, will be exhibiting at MODEX 2022, from March 28 to 31 at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, USA.

UgoWork develops and produces lithium-ion batteries for industrial trucks that help to reduce energy costs, operational bottlenecks, and reduce global carbon footprint.

During the four-day event, UgoWork will showcase its latest innovations in lithium-ion batteries for industrial truck fleets as well as presenting its ground-breaking 24/7 Energy as a Service (EaaS) pay-per-use energy management program that mitigates CAPEX and OPEX.

“Now, more than ever before, supply chains are under unprecedented pressure to elevate their efficiency and agility – without added costs that can impact stakeholders’ bottom lines. And to achieve this goal, forklift fleet operators must consider innovative approaches and technology,” said Philippe Beauchamp, UgoWork’s President and CEO.

“With unmatched ergonomics and simplicity of its charging architecture and a revolutionary EaaS program, UgoWork is a true breath of fresh air in our market. You kind of have to see it to believe it. We are delighted with our physical presence to this MODEX edition, where warm sharing with leaders of our industry is core to innovation,” he added.

 

STILL participates in autonomous driving research project

Posted on by David Priestman

The vision of autonomously driving transport vehicles in production halls or warehouses is to come within reach thanks to the European research project IMOCO (Intelligent Motion Control). On the German side, the project is led by the Hamburg-based intralogistics specialist STILL, a subsidiary of the KION Group. The project is scheduled to end in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Transport vehicles that navigate truly autonomously through warehouses and production facilities, learning to analyse and “understand” their surroundings, reliably recognising obstacles and people, avoiding them and all the while transporting goods quickly and reliably from one place to another – that still sounds like science fiction. However, according to the initiators of the European research project IMOCO, this vision is soon to become reality.

For this purpose, four scenarios were defined within the research project that are characterised by digital twins and AI principles (machine learning/deep learning): Intelligent navigation, picking up the goods, their transport and eventual drop off at the destination.

“Such processes place very high demands on the processes and also on the vehicle,” describes Ansgar Bergmann, responsible for the IMOCO project at STILL. “With our OPX iGo neo, we have therefore sent an order picker into the project that already comes very close to the idea of this autonomously driving vehicle due to its ‘intelligent’ equipment and the resulting capabilities.”

Highly sensitive sensor technology

Current automated guided vehicles still have their limits when it comes to operating completely autonomously in warehouses or production facilities. Although they recognise obstacles and brake independently, they cannot yet avoid obstacles, intelligently search for the most efficient routes and analyse the environment. For this, they need highly sensitive sensor technology in the form of laser scanners, cameras or radar to detect spatial objects such as shelves or even signs, markings and displays.

In addition, they must “understand” their environment, register changes and be able to respond to them. Only this will allow these vehicles to navigate independently to their destination, recognise and handle loads, avoid obstacles or find logical storage locations for the transported goods.

The OPX iGo neo already operates autonomously in the aisle, detects and understands its environment and derives appropriate actions from it. However, leaving the shelf aisle fully autonomously and navigating through the customer’s halls, and also planning optimal paths for this, for example, is not yet part of the product. But precisely because it is already equipped with the corresponding environmental sensors, the OPX iGo neo is the ideal starting point for the desired further developments of this project.

“For the OPX iGo neo, the goal of the project is to further increase the level of understanding of the environment and the decision-making capabilities in order to continuously increase the autonomous capabilities, the intelligence of the robot, and to allow it to act autonomously in the warehouse beyond the shelf aisle,” explains Bergmann. “Machine and deep learning approaches play a very important role here.”

Detect obstacles in real-time

IMOCO has set itself the goal of creating the prerequisites for this challenging application of mobile robotic systems in dynamic intralogistics environments. Autonomously executed and situation-based modifications to the planning of a route, including the consideration of moving objects such as people or vehicles, should then be possible throughout the entire warehouse.

Bergmann says: “The research project wants to further develop the conventional triad of recognition, analysis and action by means of artificial intelligence – to perceive, understand and solve.” Within the research project, the vehicles are to be enabled to perceive the spatial environment through different sensor systems and not only recognise trained objects, but also to estimate their movements. “This detection of obstacles has to be done in real time for smooth operation.”

Hamburg as “research centre”

At the STILL headquarters in Hamburg, a demonstrator is being set up where all the project partners’ work will be brought together. In addition to STILL as a representative of the KION Group, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), Hahn Schickard, IMST GmbH, Nuromedia and Digital Twin Technology are also participating in the project on the German side.

IMOCO is funded by the European Union through the research organisation “Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership” (ECSEL) and by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

 

Driverless forklifts can solve recruitment issues

Posted on by David Priestman

A growing number of European warehouse and distribution centre operators see driverless forklift truck technology as the optimum solution to the staff recruitment and employment cost challenges they are facing, writes Jason Zhang, VisionNav Robotics’ Head of Sales – Europe.

Across the Eurozone, a shrinking labour pool is hitting the logistics sector hard. And with HGV drivers, warehouse order pickers and forklift operators all in short supply, supply chain disruption has become a serious issue for many organisations.

While Covid and the economic and social upheaval that has followed in its wake is partly responsible for the current workforce crisis. Other factors – including a falling population of ‘prime age’ workers – suggest that the problem isn’t simply a ‘bump in the road’ but something with which the logistics industry will have to learn to contend in the long term.

In Germany – Europe’s largest economy – the ageing population combined with low birth rates recently prompted the Federal Labor Agency to warn that the country must attract at least 400,000 skilled immigrants every year.

“The fact is Germany is running out of workers,” said Federal Labor Agency Chairman Detlef Scheele. “From nurses to logistics personnel there will be a shortage of workers everywhere.”

Even in countries with high levels of unemployment such as Spain – where the unemployment rate is currently hovering at around 14 per cent – warehouse staff and forklift operators are in high demand due to the low supply of qualified personnel to do the jobs.

And in the UK 13% of respondents to a recent survey undertaken by the leading trade association, Logistics UK, reported severe warehouse staff shortages, with a substantial decline in the availability of forklift drivers cited as a major problem.

Of course, fewer staff in any traditional warehouse where manual picking and packing are core activities, puts significant strain on the existing employees and makes an already taxing job even less appealing to potential new recruits – so its easy to see how the logistics industry’s worker shortage problem is likely to become worse before (if ever) it improves.

Throughout Europe the lack of workers means warehouse operators have to offer increased wages to attract the quantity and quality of the personnel they need. In the UK, for example, in November 2020 the average forklift driver’s salary advertised on online job-search engine Adzuna was £21,972 while warehouse staff positions typically paid £19,995 per annum. By November 2021 the remuneration for both forklift drivers and order pickers was up 8% year-on-year. Over the same period, vacancies for forklift drivers had surged 169% while other warehouse job postings were up 143%.

Given that human labour is already one of the most significant costs associated with running a warehouse the handsome financial packages that are now required to tempt forklift operators or other warehouse staff are prompting more and more logistics companies to seek new ways of providing the same service levels with less staff.

For many, this means switching to automation and, unsurprisingly, a growing number of Europe’s warehouse and distribution centre operators consider driverless forklift truck technology represents the optimum solution to the recruitment and employment cost challenges they are facing.

Driverless forklifts undertake every type of task that would be expected of a traditional manually-operated forklift – including vehicle loading and unloading, pallet put-away and retrieval in both standard and very narrow aisle racking configurations, as well as pallet and stillage movements throughout the warehouse.

In addition to the obvious savings in labour costs that driverless forklifts bring, other benefits include: reduced damage to goods, racking and trucks; greater picking accuracy; and more efficient use of the available storage space.

Worldwide, Nestle, DHL and Walmart are among the high profile businesses to have already adopted the VisionNav driverless truck system, while countless small and medium sized forklift users are also benefiting from the solution.

In simple terms, the ‘vision-based’ navigation technology at the heart of VisionNav’s operator-free forklifts uses a vehicle-mounted camera to sense the environment in which the vehicle is operating. Information concerning the structural design and storage system lay-out of the facility where trucks are deployed is stored as off-line maps which the visual navigation system matches with real time images received from the camera to navigate the forklifts efficiently and safely around the store. With multiple vehicles controlled by the system, the trucks are directed to their next location via the shortest, fastest and safest route for optimum throughput performance.

Visual navigation technology is not only highly efficient, it is quick and easy to install and brings a rapid return on investment. The highly flexible technology allows driverless industrial trucks to be adopted with minimal disruption to a site’s existing intralogistics process and, typically, ROI is achieved after a period of 18-24 months.

The overwhelming majority of warehouse and distribution centre operations rely on forklift trucks for the efficient running of their intralogistics processes and when it comes to running a lift truck fleet, the forklift driver is often the biggest cost.

Salaries, bonuses, training and myriad other expenses combined with hidden extras such as the damage to goods or a building’s infrastructure caused by a carelessly driven truck or, worse still, injuries to personnel, all add up to a considerable sum.

When the cost savings they bring are added to the fact that driverless lift trucks eliminate the staffing issues created by the shortage of qualified forklift drivers, it is not surprising that more and more companies are adopting automated lift truck technology to optimise the efficiency of their warehouse intralogistics processes.

Established in 2016, VisionNav Robotics is among the fastest-growing operator-free industrial vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company’s range of fully automated, vision-guided forklift trucks is now available across Europe and includes driverless counterbalanced trucks, reach trucks, stackers and tow tractors.

 

Linde presents concentrated expertise at LogiMAT

Posted on by David Priestman

Linde Material Handling (MH) will be presenting its concentrated expertise to visitors at LogiMAT 2022 in several exhibition areas covering a total area of around 1,000 sq m. A special focus will be on Linde’s pioneering electric counterbalanced trucks, a wide variety of order picking concepts, and digital solutions for operational safety and efficient energy management.

Visitors coming to the trade fair with the goal of bringing themselves up to speed about industrial truck technologies of the future will more than find what they are looking for at Linde MH’s exhibition areas (Stand B21 in Hall 10, as well as the outdoor grounds between Hall 8 and Hall 10).

One example is the latest generation of IC engine-powered and electric counterbalanced trucks in the 2.0 to 3.5t load capacity range. These trucks are designed to accommodate all available digital applications and offer impressive performance, economical energy consumption and a high level of operator comfort as well as excellent visibility.

The highlight among the electric forklifts is the X series, which is unique in the industry. It combines the advantages of the Linde hydrostat with the benefits of a battery-powered vehicles. This means that the electric forklifts are just as productive as their IC counterparts, insensitive to dust and dirt and suitable for continuous operation at the payload limit and on gradients. At the same time, they operate quietly, emission-free and enable completely carbon-neutral energy consumption.

“The additional outdoor area on the exhibition grounds is the perfect place to show in action the numerous improvements and advantages of these new shooting stars from Linde MH featuring different drive types,” says Stefan Prokosch, SVP Brand Management Linde Material Handling.

Another focus of the trade fair presentation will be on the wide range of order picking solutions from Linde MH, which help users achieve greater efficiency in their picking processes. Both manual and semi-automatic equipment options will be on display, as well as automated industrial trucks such as the Linde R-MATIC reach truck.

A large amount of attention will also be devoted to the company’s growing number of software and consulting solutions. These include the extensive functions of the “Linde connect” fleet management system, assistance systems designed to protect people, infrastructure and goods, and smart, AI-based energy management, which can be used to smooth out peaks in electricity demand and improve energy consumption planning overall.

“This helps our customers keep energy costs under control and safeguard the availability of their electric industrial truck fleet at all times,” the Linde Brand Manager explains.

 

Konecranes supplies lift trucks to Luanda

Posted on by David Priestman

Konecranes has supplied DP World with six Konecranes reach stackers and four empty container handlers to its multipurpose terminal in Luanda, on the southwest African coast.

DP World is a leading provider of smart logistic solutions and one of the largest port operators in the world. DP World is also present in Angola with the concession to run the multipurpose terminal in Port of Luanda, which is also Angola’s primary port.

The Port of Luanda operations are looking for a sizable fleet of lift trucks to manage a continuous stream of incoming and outgoing cargo and containers. With upgraded equipment, DP World aims to raise productivity of the port while reducing costs.

“This new delivery really shows the confidence that DP World has in Konecranes,” says Manos Athanasakis, Key Account Manager for Konecranes Lift Trucks. “We offer durability, reliability and flexibility with port terminal equipment, and with the valuable help of local dealer Trevotech, we are now pleased to bring those qualities to a new site for a long-term customer, DP World. We have built a solid partnership over the years with strong mutual trust.”

The six new reach stackers are Konecranes’ best-selling SMV 4632 TC5s, sturdy lifting machines that can safely stack up to 46t in the first row, 32t in the second, and 17t in the third. They are fitted with the Konecranes Static Weighing System that weighs containers to 1% accuracy and fully conforms with SOLAS requirements.

The empty container handlers are SMV 6/7 ECC 90s, with wide masts that provide the option of stacking six empty high-cube containers or seven standard containers. All 10 lift trucks feature the ergonomic OPTIMA cabin for comfort, wide visibility and improved safety, with reverse Radar System to alert drivers about obstacles behind the truck, as well as a semi-automatic fire suppression system essential in the hot and demanding working conditions in which the lift trucks will operate.

Each truck uses a Tier 3 engine to maintain productivity while minimizing fuel consumption and emissions.

The order was booked in May 2021 and the lift trucks were delivered in December.

CK upgrades fleet with ‘second life’ Toyota trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

CK Food Stores – the largest independent food retailer in South West Wales – has upgraded the material handling equipment at its Llanelli warehouse and distribution centre with the acquisition of a fleet of refurbished powered pallet trucks from the extensive range of Approved Used forklifts available from Toyota Material Handling UK.

CK Food Stores opted to invest in refurbished equipment after carrying out an extensive review of its intralogistics processes and materials handling needs ahead of the approaching summer peak.

With used trucks generally selling for around two-thirds of the price of new equipment, the financial flexibility that used trucks offer was a significant influence on the company’s decision to choose pre-owned machines. But the fact that the trucks were available for immediate delivery was also an important factor.

CK Food Stores’ operations manager, Alun Littlejohns, commented: “With one of our busiest periods of the year approaching we needed to have a reliable truck fleet in place that would minimise unplanned downtime and allow us to meet our logistics challenges at this particularly hectic time.”

Toyota’s Stuart Reilly,  Rental & Used Equipment Director, added: “For many companies used forklifts represent an attractive and economical alternative to new equipment. And, because Toyota refurbishes trucks to such a high standard, our used trucks give many years of efficient and productive service.

“Buying or renting used trucks should never be overlooked. As the example of CK Food Stores demonstrates, acquiring pre-owned trucks can be highly beneficial to many businesses”.

Toyota supplied a total of 10 used LWE 180 powered pallet trucks to CK Food Stores to replace the company’s existing mixed fleet of pallet trucks and order pickers.

The Toyota LWE 180 is highly suited to medium- or heavy-duty transport or order picking tasks. Popular with operators due to its exceptional stability and clear and safe view of the forks, the LWE180 is easy to manoeuvre thanks to its ergonomic steering arm, which allows the truck to be driven while the tiller is in an upright position.

Toyota will provide full service and maintenance support to minimise the fleet’s running costs and ensure optimum truck uptime at the Llanelli site where some 6,000 picks are undertaken each day to keep the shelves of the CK Food Service’s 28 retail outlets stocked.

All Toyota Used Approved lift trucks are refurbished to the highest standards at Toyota’s dedicated 200,000 sq ft fleet management centre in Leicestershire. Toyota knows the full-service history of each truck and every machine is completely dismantled. Worn or defective parts – including tyres and lift chains – are replaced and the trucks are cleaned inside and out and repainted before being reassembled and safety tested.

Clark introduces its first Li-ion counterbalance

Posted on by David Priestman

Clark has relaunched the GEX and GTX series. The three and four-wheel electric forklifts in 48-volt technology with load capacities of 1.6 to 2 tonnes are now also available with a lithium-ion battery (Li-Ion). With the GEX and GTX series, Clark has for the first time brought counterbalance trucks with Li-Ion battery onto the market and further expanded the product portfolio in the area of Li-Ion technology.

Customers with intensive applications in particular benefit from the properties of the Li-Ion battery, such as longevity, quick and intermediate charging capability as well as freedom from maintenance. The manoeuvrable GEX and GTX electric forklifts with Li-Ion battery are in demand wherever it is important to deliver top performance reliably and cost-efficiency day after day.

Particularly in multi-shift operations in distribution or industry, where high availability is important, also in the food, beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, where clean operation is essential, the Clark electric forklifts with Li-Ion battery are an indispensable component that ensures high handling performance with low operating costs.

“The Clark lithium-ion batteries are efficient energy bundles that impress with their high availability,” explains Rolf Eiten, President & CEO Clark Europe. “When developing our lithium-ion solution, it was important to us that the customer can not only benefit from all the advantages of this technology, but that in combination with an already proven Clark electric forklift series, he receives a logistics solution at the usual price-performance ratio, which also pays off for smaller and medium-sized operations.”

Two traction motors in the parallel front drive, each with 4.4kW power and 48V three-phase technology, ensure rapid acceleration of the vehicles and travel speeds of up to 16km/h. The AC motors used are designed to be wear-free and very robust. The Zapi Dual AC control system is equipped with CAN bus technology. Three driving modes are available for energy-efficient use of the truck.

Also individually programmable are the wear-free, regenerative braking with the motor brake and the automatic reduction of speed when cornering. Safe use on ramps is guaranteed by the standard ramp function, which prevents unintentional acceleration or rolling back of the truck and ensures that the operator always has the vehicle under control.

The GTX/GEX electric trucks have lift heights of up to 7075mm. The range is available with two wheelbases. The GTX16/GEX16 has a wheelbase of 1312mm. The GTX18/GEX18 and the GTX20s and GEX20s each have a wheelbase of 1420mm.

Li-Ion – high availability with low operating costs

The Clark Li-Ion solution consists of the Li-Ion battery including battery management system (BMS) and a high-frequency charger. The battery capacity is 460Ah for all models in the GTX/GEX series. This means that both the vehicles with a smaller wheelbase and those with a larger wheelbase have the same battery power.

The 48V (160A) charger only requires a power connection (CEE 16 A plug) and fully recharges the battery in as little as 2.5 hours. The charging status of the Li-Ion battery is shown on the truck display. During the charging process, the charger’s display shows the charging status. The BMS has a safety cut-out and thus ensures safe use of the battery.

The Li-Ion battery can be temporarily charged at any time and within a very short time – whenever breaks occur and without damaging the battery or shortening its life. Approximately 6-7% of the charge quantity can be achieved in 10 minutes. Decentralised charging points directly at the place of use ensure that fast and safe charging can take place at any time.

Li-Ion trucks can thus be used around the clock without the need to change batteries. This reduces the downtimes required for battery replacement. In addition, the operator does not have to keep any exchangeable batteries or infrastructure for battery replacement. He can use the expensive storage space thus gained for other purposes.

Another advantage of the Li-Ion battery is the fact that the battery scores with a constant voltage during the entire operation. Full power is always available ⎼ even when the battery is 85% discharged. In short, Clark Li-Ion batteries bundle a lot of energy in a small space. They have an extremely long service life and are optimal for intensive use. Operators can therefore not only increase their productivity by using Li-Ion batteries, but also save costs for maintenance, infrastructure and replacement batteries.

Safe and durable

Because Clark always focuses on safety, Clark Li-Ion batteries are based on lithium iron phosphate technology (LiFePO4). With LiFePO4 batteries, no oxygen is released during the chemical reaction within the cells. This means that there is no risk of spontaneous combustion or explosion of the battery. The use of the battery is therefore very safe. Trucks with LiFePO4 battery perform efficiently even at very low and high ambient temperatures.

With 2,500 guaranteed charging cycles, the service life of the Li-Ion battery is at least twice as long, and depending on the application even many times as long, as the service life of a lead-acid battery. And even after that, the battery can still be used for 10+ years for further uses. In addition, LiFePO4 batteries are more environmentally friendly than, for example, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC batteries), because these require problematic raw materials, such as cobalt. Moreover, NMC batteries can burn if they leave certain operating parameters.

“The investment in a Li-Ion truck is not only worthwhile for intensive applications, but also for all drivers who want to operate a maintenance-free, long-lasting and fast-charging battery with a high safety standard,” says Eiten.

In addition to high availability and high performance, the GTX/GEX series also has a lot to offer the operator: The extremely spacious operator workplace with a generous footwell and plenty of leg and headroom ensures that operators can feel comfortable at work. A choice of adjustable comfort seats with air or mechanical suspension contribute to the high level of operator comfort. The tilt of the steering column can be individually adjusted to suit the operator.

The pedals are car-compliant. The truck can be operated either by adjustable mini-levers integrated in the armrest or by ergonomically arranged hydraulic levers on the truck bonnet. A change of direction is made via the steering column, the armrest or via a double pedal. The multi-coloured, high-contrast display provides information on all important driving parameters. Storage options for documents and mobile phones round off the workplace. In addition, thanks to the nested mast profiles, the vehicle offers the operator a very good view through the mast to the forks and the load.

Manoeuvrable and effortless to operate

The power steering ensures that the operator needs only low steering forces and few steering wheel turns when manoeuvring. With a steering angle of 101°, the GEX16-20s four-wheel forklift turns on the spot almost like a three-wheel forklift. The inner front wheel runs in the opposite direction when the steering angle is high. The rear wheel is thus not pushed over the ground. Tyre wear is thus significantly lower than with other trucks. The GTX16-20s three-wheel truck has double tyres on the steering axle as standard. With a steering angle of 90°, the three-wheel trucks therefore turn on the spot.

Tailor-made for the application

The Clark three- and four-wheel electric forklifts are available with extensive additional equipment so that they can be individually adapted to a wide range of operating conditions. The optional equipment includes, among other things, different cabs, such as rain protection (steel roof), weather protection (steel roof and front windscreen), partial (steel roof, front and rear windscreen as well as PVC side panel) and full cab, mini-levers or mechanical levers, blue LED warning lights, orange safety belt, attachments as well as additional safety options.

 

Doosan launches ultra-low emission forklift range

Posted on by David Priestman

Doosan, a leading manufacturer of robust high performance forklift trucks, has further extended its powerful new 9-Series world-class Euro Stage V compliant IC engine counterbalance forklift trucks with the launch of the advanced heavy-lifting D70S-9 range.

Built to perform in the most demanding industrial environments, and available in four models across a capacity range of 6 – 9 tonnes, Doosan says these tough diesel-powered trucks offer an unbeatable combination of outstanding fuel efficiency, performance, driver comfort and safety.

Powering the D70S-9 is the new highly fuel-efficient DM03V(A) Stage V Doosan-built diesel engine, bringing huge benefits in terms of ultra-low emissions and dramatically lower operating costs – saving almost half a litre of fuel per hour when compared with other models in the market. The new engine also provides high torque at low rpm, facilitating improved forklift acceleration, drive and climb performance – making the trucks ideal for loading and unloading using ramps.

Importantly, Doosan’s latest engine design is fully compliant with Euro Stage V regulations and is fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). In normal operation, regeneration of the DPF takes place automatically during driving – maximising uptime and ensuring uninterrupted all-round performance.

A cost-saving standard feature of the new range is the multi torque function, allowing the operator to select the performance most suited to the task. ECO mode minimises fuel consumption, cutting down on unnecessary acceleration; High mode increases power output to match the demands of heavy-duty work; and Standard mode maintains output at levels suited to everyday tasks.

Increased in-cab visibility

A new sleek cab design offers 40% increased visibility, greater comfort and enhanced ergonomics, giving the driver the perfect conditions for safe, efficient operation.

The cab has been cleverly designed using curved front, top, and rear glass panels to reduce blind spots and provide greater all-round visibility. And with an all-new ‘full floating’ cabin design, with improved sound insulation, noise has been reduced to just 74dBA and vibration to an absolute minimum.

In-cab air quality has been enhanced too. By introducing positive air pressure within the cabin and installing two internal filters the driver is protected against the harmful effects of dusty working environments, making the D70S-9 ideal for brick works and foundries. In addition, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system offers fully automatic temperature control and can be easily adjusted in manual mode.

When it comes to ergonomics, Doosan says the new cab layout of the D70S-9 firmly places the operator in the command driving position. An integrated 7” full LCD multi-functional display positioned close-to-eye level, along with clearly arranged switches incorporating status indicators and finger-tip controls for effortless actions, all help to boost productivity and enhance on-site safety

Along with offering easy to view data on the truck’s status, the multi-functional display panel includes an integrated maintenance management programme, diagnostic functions and PIN code security. When used in conjunction with optional front and rear cameras the panel can be used to display forward and reverse views, helping to improve safety on site. A weight indicator is another optional extra.

Powerful performance

Doosan says powerful, robust performance is assured. Its D70S-9 range has a new, highly durable reinforced steering axle and is equipped with an electronically controlled 3-speed ZF transmission, providing the driver with a smooth gear change every time and precision control when handling heavy loads. In addition, the sensitivity of the inching pedal is adjustable, ensuring accuracy when handling heavy and fragile loads such as glass bottles.

Included as standard is Doosan’s industry-leading sealed, oil-cooled disc brake system, which is virtually maintenance free and lasts up to five times longer when compared to conventional shoe brakes. The sealed units protect against outside elements such as dirt, water and grit, ensuring top-rate braking performance for enhanced safety and increased productivity.

Safety first

Safety is foremost across Doosan’s entire new 9-Series, as reflected in many of the design features already outlined. In addition, some further prominent safety features are: An operator sensing system; rear object detection system (option); auto tilt levelling (option); and blue safety light projection.

Doosan takes ease of maintenance into account too, with improved accessibility to the engine and service areas – the cab tilts back automatically, opening 20% more than on the previous model. The transmission oil filter and pressure check port are placed on top of the transmission for easy inspection and maintenance and electronic components are centralised for convenience.

Maintenance costs on the D70S-9 are dramatically reduced, with hours between servicing double those of the previous model when using upgraded lubricants – for transmission (1,000hr to 2,000hr) and engine (500hr to 1,000hr).

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