Tag: forklift technology|forklifts|materials handling

Hyster 8-18 tonne capacity lift trucks include Stage V engines to help businesses comply with emissions legislation while heightening productivity and lowering the Total Cost of Ownership.

The new H8-18XD series of Hyster Big Trucks features Stage V engines and delivers low running costs in terms of fuel and AdBlue® consumption, with no compromise on performance or durability.

“We are constantly evolving our range of Hyster solutions, according to technological developments, changes in legislation, and above all, our customers’ needs,” says Jan-Willem van den Brand, Direct Global Market Development Big Trucks. “Customers can expect high uptime and low TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) in demanding applications where cost pressures are having a big impact.”

Tyre repair and replacement is in fact the second largest cost for most materials handling operations. For this reason, the Hyster trucks feature an adjustable maximum steering angle. This decreases friction when the operator selects the reduced angle, resulting in reduced tyre wear and cost.

Hyster service intervals

“A key way to increase productivity and maximise the profitability of an operation is to prevent downtime for service and maintenance,” says van den Brand. “Therefore, improved serviceability is built into the design of all models in the series.”

The service intervals on the new Stage V engine have increased from 500 hours to 1000 hours. In accordance with regulations, the new Hyster trucks use a combination of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) like AdBlue and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). For easy access, both after-treatment units are packed in one box and conveniently positioned on the outside of the truck.

To speed up general maintenance and minimise downtime, the truck series is designed with easy service access, with a display providing key truck performance data and on-board diagnostics on one clear screen.

The Hyster H8-18XD truck series is available with a variety of wheelbase sizes.  Businesses can specify a truck for optimal manoeuvrability in tight spaces, boosting productivity and reducing tyre wear. Where space isn’t an issue, applications can select a model with a larger outer turning radius and lower truck weight to help reduce fuel consumption and costs.

Different truck configurations are available, as well as special engineering options, to accommodate other application-specific requirements, from a reversing fan to improve cooling in dusty paper or construction operations, or different handling attachments to accommodate the load variation encountered in the wood industry.

Good Design Award

The truck series also features a redesigned front end and operator-friendly XD cabin, for which the Hyster H16XD-6 lift truck received a 2020 GOOD DESIGN Award.

“The cab and front-end design focuses on visibility, ergonomics and comfort to help drive operator productivity throughout an entire shift,” says van den Brand. “Not only is a comfortable operator often more productive, but comfort also keeps them happy. This is more important than ever as many markets are encountering a shortage of skills in this area.”

The quiet and comfortable cab has the largest cabin entry area in the industry making it easy to get on and off, and it is spacious enough to wear a hard hat inside.

The cab’s redesigned mast and carriage creates a wider view for the operator, providing greater visibility of fork tips at ground level and trailer height. Operators of the new Hyster H8-18XD range benefit from an improved sense of stability thanks to the new cast counterweight. This has shifted the trucks’ centre of gravity downwards and towards the rear, minimising bounce.

“Precision handling of fragile, heavy loads in tight spaces is required throughout applications, such as the chemicals, metals and construction industries. These trucks are sometimes required to work closely alongside materials and workers,” says van den Brand. “In these operations, a truck needs to deliver powerful performance, but with accuracy, for maximum productivity and less costly damage to loads.”

“With our new series of 8-18 tonne lift trucks, we have simplified the range, while simultaneously offering more choice to customers in their specific application requirements,” adds van den Brand.

Clark has equipped its popular GTS series with new HMC diesel and LPG engines. The environmentally-friendly industrial engines comply with EU emission level 5 and ensure equally powerful and economical operation.

The GTS series consists of diesel and LPG forklifts with lifting capacities from 2 to 3.3t and lifting heights of up to 7,315mm. As is standard at Clark, the GTS series is also built according to the “built to last” principle and accordingly has a solid construction with high-quality and durable components. The standard wet multi-disc brakes, the transmission in separate design, the stable, vibration-free steering axle and the ergonomic driver’s workplace make this series not only robust and reliable, but also comfortable and safe.

This makes the truck series ideal for intensive use in multi-shift operation in goods distribution, production or warehousing. In addition, maintenance costs are extremely low over the entire life cycle. The new low-maintenance timing chain also contributes to this. This has a positive effect on the total cost of ownership of the vehicles.

New engines for low-emission

The new powerful HMC four-cylinder industrial engines with diesel particulate filter ensure powerful acceleration and reliable operation with more economical consumption. The engine power is 48.7kW with a displacement of 2,199cc. Since the engine and transmission are installed separately from the drive axle (split transmission), vibrations and oscillations at the driver’s seat have been reduced and smooth driving behaviour ensured.

To optimally adapt the performance to the individual application, the maximum speed can be adjusted via an optional speed limiter. Compared to vehicles with drum brakes, the GTS series with enclosed and oil-cooled multi-disc brakes requires up to 50% less effort. In addition, downtimes and costs for brake maintenance are eliminated, as they are maintenance-free compared to drum brakes. Another advantage of wet multi-disc brakes is that operating the truck in a dusty or wet environment has no negative impact on the braking effect.

Ergonomic driver’s workplace

The driver’s workplace is designed so that the driver enjoys plenty of headroom and legroom. The suspension seat and the tilting steering column can be individually adjusted. The pedals are arranged in a car-like manner and can be operated intuitively. The vehicle is operated via hydraulic levers that are conveniently positioned on the bonnet. Up to five hydraulic functions can be implemented directly from the factory.

The hydrostatic power steering enables easy and safe steering with just a few turns of the steering wheel. In addition, the driver has a good field of vision through the mast. This is ensured by the low front wall and the nested mast profiles. The clear driver display informs the driver about all important operating data at a glance. On diesel engines, it also serves to monitor the diesel particulate filter.

Safe and quiet load handling

The nested mast profiles and the robust 6-roller fork carriage provide high strength even under the heaviest loads. For low-noise lifting operations, the trucks are equipped with mast damping as standard. During lifting operations, the transition between the individual mast profiles is smooth. This protects the goods and lift mast components and allows smooth and precise load handling.

In order to guarantee a high level of safety in different operating conditions, numerous safety features are available for the trucks, such as a highly visible orange safety belt, automatic neutralisation of the direction of travel if the belt buckle is not closed with sequence monitoring, blue LED warning lights or the CLARK SafeView@360 camera system so that the driver has everything in view around the truck. Hydraulic accumulators are also designed to prevent the load from swinging up on uneven floors.

Wide range of additional equipment

In order to adapt the trucks individually to the application, Clark offers a wide range of additional equipment, such as wide track, twin or non-marking tyres, integrated or mounted sideshifters, fork positioner, lockable fuel filler cap, additional hydraulic functions, quick-change system, rear-view mirrors, strobe lights as well as different seats and cab variants.

With a full cab, for example, the two-part driver’s doors can be opened 180° and fixed to the truck frame. This makes it possible to move the truck with the doors open, for example in summer. A heater, electrically heated rear window, front and rear windscreen wipers, easily accessible storage compartments and a radio with Bluetooth function round off the comfortable full cab.

 

Hyster has added the new S2.0SD platform double stacker to its range of dependable warehouse equipment to help operations increase productivity, while managing costs.

The new Hyster stacker truck, which can handle loads up to two tonnes, enables double stacking and handling of open sided pallet loads, as well as the transportation and loading or unloading of pallets stacked two high in a trailer. It is particularly well suited to logistics operations, retail, food distribution, and dock loading applications, where productivity in the transport and storage of palletised loads is necessary.

The new Hyster stacker provides increased speed, both when laden and unladen, making it suitable for travelling long distances or for working in loading docks.  It has also been designed for operator efficiency with a new tiller head, a choice of different driving modes, and a side arms design that makes it quicker to move to the desired position.

For operator protection and comfort, the Hyster S2.0SD platform double stacker features a large platform with rubber floormat to provide excellent grip and side/rear operator compartment panels. The truck provides an ergonomic lifting option for shelf replenishment operations with a two-stage NFL mast with lift heights of 1660mm, 2020mm and 2980mm. Applications with tight spaces can also benefit, thanks to the flexibility of a fold-up platform. Models with a fixed platform are also available.

Those opting to use a lithium-ion battery with the truck will also benefit from high uptime across multiple shifts thanks to the ability to opportunity charge during breaks via the convenient side plug. The truck is designed to be ‘lithium-ion ready’, with a controller that automatically recognises the chemistry of the battery (lithium-ion vs. lead-acid) so there is no need to change any parameters to manage the battery.

“Managing costs is as important as ever, so the new Hyster platform double stacker is designed for dependability as well as productivity, with a low Total Cost of Ownership,” says Monica Radavelli, Product Manager Warehouse, for Hyster. “It features heavy duty components, robust design, a reliable electric system, and simple serviceability that applications can combine with additional options to further match the truck to the specific application.”

Optional extras (dependent on the model) include Hyster Tracker telematics, several light packages, adjustable tiller, a key and keypad start system, a load backrest, load wheels, a range of drive wheels, foot sensor or cold store conversion.  Additional options to enhance the operator experience include multipurpose bars and clamps, clipboard, and a bottle holder.

The Hyster S2.0SD platform double stacker, which replaces the current Hyster P2.0SD model, is available to order now so that businesses can improve productivity, and in turn benefit from cost efficiencies.

 

The new Yale Platform Double Stacker has multi-functional warehouse uses including unloading and loading of trailers, crossdocking and ergonomic lifting. A versatile truck, the MS20XD offers increased operational efficiency and productive transportation of goods.

Customers can choose from a range of options and power solutions, with lithium-ion and lead acid batteries available.

From increasing working efficiency to reducing operational costs, Yale Europe Materials Handling is focused on developing products that cater to its customers’ needs. Its latest offering to the market, the Yale MS20XD Platform Double Stacker, embodies these principles by offering flexibility of usage and a choice of power solutions.

Time management is essential to the efficient operation of warehouse logistics. Loading and unloading times can be the defining factor in whether or not delivery targets are met on time. The MS20XD Platform Double Stacker is able to load two pallets at one time, which can result in time and cost savings for the customer.

“The MS20XD is not only beneficial for unloading and loading goods, but it is also an ideal candidate for crossdocking and ergonomic lifting applications,” said Monica Radavelli, Product Manager Warehouse at Yale.

The flexible advantage

The double stacker can be used in a range of warehouse applications, particularly in the food, beverage, retail and logistics industries. Customers can choose to power their solution with a lithium-ion or lead acid battery.

Consolidating a materials handling fleet is a cost-effective exercise and with the MS20XD’s working flexibility, it has the capacity to take on a multitude of roles within the warehouse logistics chain. The ability to move two pallets at the same time with short forks makes the Platform Double Stacker exemplary in congested areas.

“The multifunctional capability of the truck enables it to transport goods directly from trailer to the first levels of racking. For mixed applications, the low lift function helps the operator to stack shelves or feed production lines without excessive bending – keeping items moving and encouraging productivity thanks to this attention to ergonomic requirements.”

Solutions that work

The new Platform Double Stacker is designed to work in harmony with the operator. The fixed platform option can be fitted with side or rear protection, with scooter control offered as standard. The standard foldable platform is available both with and without side arms with a fixed or adjustable tiller head. This features excellent ergonomics; the touch of a button is easily within reach.

The work light package helps to illuminate low-level lighting areas, enabling the operator to work and manoeuvre with confidence. A cold store option is also available for food and beverage applications.

The MS20XD features beginner, average and expert driving mode selection. There are four additional customisable modes, where parameters such as traction speed, acceleration and deceleration can be programmed.

If the truck makes contact with an obstacle when moving with the forks trailing, the anti-trapping function stops the truck immediately. The system then moves the truck a certain distance in the opposite direction at a slow speed to reduce the risk of operators becoming trapped in the platform.

“There are a range of additional options available with the MS20XD that enable us to tailor it to the specific needs of our customers,” added Radavelli. “We’re confident this versatile truck will be an efficient addition to warehousing environments across EMEA. Our expert dealers are ready to discuss how this new truck can add value to fleets, so we encourage prospective users to get in touch with them today.”

Parfetts, an employee-owned UK cash and carry wholesaler, has upgraded the material handling equipment across its seven depots with the introduction of new reach trucks, counterbalance trucks and powered pallet trucks from the Toyota range.

Covering the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, the North East and North West regions of England, Parfetts offers over 9,000 product lines. While a significant proportion of the company’s clients still prefer to visit Parfetts’ depots in-person in the traditional ‘cash and carry’ business model way, increasingly customers choose to place their orders online. Parfetts operates an online order-day-one-for-day-two-delivery service and delivery is free of charge.

To help maintain the efficiency of its free delivery service and reduce the risk of delivery personnel suffering strain-related injuries during their daily routine, Parfetts has equipped each wagon in its transport fleet with BT Tyro LHE130 powered pallet trucks.

Prior to the arrival of the powered pallet trucks, Parfetts’ delivery personnel had used manual or ‘pump’ trucks. However, the company has seen a clear increase in the number of palletised loads passing through its downstream supply chain while the use of roll cages is in decline.

Stefan Dremza, Parfetts’ store manager, comments: “Back strains and other musculoskeletal disorders brought on by manual handling tasks are among the main causes of staff absenteeism in the UK, so it makes sense to reduce or, ideally, eliminate manual handling wherever possible.

“Powered pallet trucks are considerably less tiring to work with than ‘pump’ trucks and we have been able to cut out a lot of the hard physical work that delivering to our retailer customers involves simply and highly cost-effectively by introducing the Tyro powered pallet trucks.”

The BT Tyro LHE130 from Toyota is an entry-level powered pallet truck that has been designed for use in light applications. It is manoeuvred effortlessly and can lift and transport loads weighing up to 1300kg, while its compact design and ‘creep speed’ functionality make it ideal for applications where space is confined – as is often the case when delivering to retail stores.

To optimise safety when transporting loads, the new truck automatically reduces its speed when cornering and to ensure that only authorised personnel can operate it, the LHE130 requires PIN code access.

In addition, reach and counterbalance trucks have been supplied for operation within Parfetts’ depots. The reach trucks are Toyota RRE160B models. With a lift height of 8.5m, these highly productive trucks feature fingertip control levers for all fork movements and electronic steering for precise driving.

The counterbalance trucks specified are Toyota Traigo 3-wheel electric-powered models. The Traigo’s 1.5t load capacity and tight turning radius make it the ideal truck for operation within Parfetts’ depots.

Parffets has been employee-owned since 2008. With 900 staff the business has a turnover of £650m.

 

Toyota Material Handling Europe and Toyota Europe Design Development have presented the winners of this year’s Toyota Logistic Design Competition. The response was huge: over 1,500 registrations and 203 final submissions.

A panel of design experts chose 10 finalists in a first round, with a second jury of industry experts picking the final winners. Toyota Logistic Design Competition 2022, Category Gold Award Winner is Jacob Abraham from University of Houston, USA, with ´Oro´.

Oro delivery module is a design solution that optimises final mile delivery vehicles in dense urban environments. Inspired by Toyota, the product has clear DNA from both the Toyota logistics and mobility side. Delivery modules can travel through areas inaccessible to most delivery vehicles, especially obstructed pathways.

“Oro with its ‘walkie’ function makes it extremely manoeuvrable in narrow spaces. One of the many great ideas coming out of our dialogue with young designers. After eight years the competition has submissions from 123 countries, showcasing revolutionary ideas around urban micrologistics,” comments Magnus Oliveira Andersson, Head of Design at Toyota Material Handling Europe.

“We enjoyed working with Laurent and his team and all of us will be back with a new edition next year, challenging the students to come up with logistic and mobility solutions for Paris 2024, “ concludes Andersson.

Laurent Bouzige, Chief Designer Strategy and new Mobility at Toyota Europe Design Development, agrees: “We are delighted to have been able to participate in this competition for the first time, collaborating with Toyota Material Handling Europe. It wasn’t an easy task to select the finalists as the quality of the works was remarkable, breathtakingly creative, and fresh! Many aspects of mobility service were well-thought through, the proposals were mature, relevant, and inspiring. All the stakeholders’ works, and the participants too, are all highly appreciated. We are already looking forward to the next edition.”

The Silver Award went to Zsófia Mátravölgyi from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, Hungary, with ´Oasis´.  Oasis is a pick-up and drop-off point system focused on the downtown. Its aim is to make last-mile delivery easier with minimal impact on social spaces and to help reduce the congestion of urban traffic with an alternative hybrid delivery method.

Nicholas Orie, from California State University, USA, with ‘Mitsubachi’ received the Bronze Award. The Toyota Mitsubachi solution is a modular, autonomous drone fleet, integrated in warehouses and urban micro hubs, designed to streamline the process of handling, and organising goods.

All finalists are awarded with cash prizes and will have the opportunity to apply for a six-month paid internship at the Toyota Material Handling Design Center, either in Sweden or Italy, and at Toyota Europe Design Centre, ED², in France.

At this edition, ED² identified the high-potential idea of E-Cargo Bike, designed by Marius Cramer, from Umeå Institute of Design, Sweden.  Former president of ED², Ian Cartabiano, now Vice President Advanced Design at Calty Design Research in USA, together with the executive juror, decided to give a special award to this project.  Currently, Marius is doing his 6-month internship at ED2 thanks to this special mention.

The award ceremony was held during Logiconomi 2022, a unique two-day event bringing together 600 logistics professionals and industry leaders to address the many challenges logistics is facing today, presenting solutions and providing inspiration.

CLICK HERE to see the winning design work.

Fleet operators using diesel forklifts from Linde Material Handling (MH) can now reduce their CO2 emissions by up to 90% through the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This fossil-free fuel has the additional benefits of providing extra power to the engine and giving cleaner combustion, while not requiring any adaptations to the refuelling infrastructure and offering the option of being blended with regular diesel.

HVO diesel is made from 100% renewable raw materials and does not release any new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is produced by hydrotreating from various vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste and residual materials, such as used cooking oils and fats from restaurants and the food industry. Its chemical structure is almost identical to that of conventional diesel and can therefore replace it completely.

“By approving this fuel for our diesel forklift engines, we are giving our customers the chance to massively reduce the carbon footprint of their diesel forklifts without having to invest a single cent in additional infrastructure,” says Frank Bergmann, Senior Product Manager Counterbalanced Forklifts. The cost per litre of HVO diesel, the expert adds, is slightly higher than that of standard diesel. But this is more than offset by the improved sustainability factor.

HVO advantages

In addition to reducing CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel, local emissions such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxide (NOX), hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) are also reduced, which has a positive impact on the working environment of employees. In addition, HVO diesel has a higher propensity to ignite (cetane number), which results in efficient and clean combustion and reduces soot formation in engines and exhaust systems.

The fuel’s high performance even at temperatures as low as -22°C opens up a wide range of application options. Last but not least, the ability to flexibly blend HVO is a convincing argument: The fuel can be used in its pure form or in any mixing ratio with fossil diesel and requires no hardware adjustments to the IC truck.

Linde MH has approved the biofuel for both its current industrial trucks and most predecessor series in the load capacity range from 1.4 to 18 tonnes. “All customers who are unable to switch to electric forklifts in the short term can now improve their carbon footprint by changing to HVO,” states Bergmann.

The Yale Series N has the potential to be game-changing for customers with its configurable features, allowing them to redefine the way they operate with a bespoke lift truck to meet the unique demands of their applications.

“Customers in warehouse and logistics, automotive and food industries can elevate their success by integrating the Series N into their applications,” explained Phil Mean, Product Strategy Manager at Yale Europe Materials Handling. “Our dealers and sales team know how to get to the root of an application’s individual needs and define a precise lift truck specification that gives our customers exactly what they require. The configurability of the range sets a new level of excellence in lift truck solutions – so we thought we could outline what a Series N in each industry may look like.”

Warehouse & Logistics

Warehouse and logistics operators are often required to regularly get on and off the truck during their normal operational tasks. The Series N has a number of features to help the operator get quickly and safely off the truck.

The step position offers excellent ingress and egress, which combined with the overhead guard position minimises twist as the operator climbs into the cab, reducing the flex in an operator’s back and torso. A large step is one of three points of contact, alongside a convenient handle for the left hand and the seat’s flip-up armrest to provide the operator a secure way of getting into the truck.

As the cornerstone of the supply chain, warehousing and logistics operations are likely to require trucks that work in both indoor and outdoor environments. The addition of high-output LED lights on a Series N provides superior illumination in dark conditions. Where trucks are used in outdoor areas, the cab can be configured for various climates. Features such as heaters or air conditioning can be specified.

When frequently placing loads on racks in warehouses, visibility to the load, forks, racking and stored loads is key for the operator. The Series N has a wide mast window, helping the operator to see the load every time they lift. It can also be fitted with a fork laser line, helping to reduce operator guesswork during high lifting.

Automotive Industry

Automotive customers have similar demands to those of warehouse and logistics operations, with some key additional challenges.

An industry-wide drive for efficiency in logistics has led to the use of more lightweight and returnable packaging – and with it, an increased risk of damage to the packaging from the forklift. The Yale Series N offers some excellent options to reduce this risk, allowing packages to be handled carefully.

This includes a new hydraulic system, which offers improved sensitivity and fine control. Together with industry-leading drive systems, the truck enables operators to consistently and accurately place loads.

Food Industry

In the food industry, it is common practice for customers to have light but bulky loads, which can limit forward visibility, therefore increasing the need for more reverse driving.

To facilitate manoeuvring in reverse, users can benefit from a rear drive handle with horn option. The handle is conveniently located on the rear overhead guard leg and helps to reduce strain on the operator’s back when driving in reverse. The addition of the horn button allows an operator to use the horn function without having to remove their hand from the steering wheel. While operators should keep an eye in the direction of travel, a reverse camera option can support visibility behind the truck, especially when manoeuvring and first moving away.

Tall loads are often block stacked, which bring its own operational issues. They can be less secure on the forks due to the high centre of gravity, especially when stacked on top of each other. The Yale Series N has a number of features to help, from a simple load back rest to the Dynamic Stability System, where truck performance is limited during high lift situations.

“There are even more features and options offered by our Series N range that can add value to customers’ operations. This is an incredibly exciting product, engineered to help raise the levels of efficiency and productivity for our customers and their employees. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about the range to get in touch with our team today and find out how the Series N can help them set their own standard,” concluded Mean.