Subscribe

Tag: Materials Handling

Jungheinrich helps Vaillant switch to lithium-ion

Posted on by David Priestman

Aiming to continue business growth through a full upgrade and replacement of its warehouse fleet and a warehouse construction project, Vaillant Industrial, part of Vaillant Group, has prioritised a focus on sustainability in line with business objectives to design and deliver systems and manufactured products that use renewable energy.

With plans to become a carbon-neutral plant by 2025, it partnered with lithium-ion specialist Jungheinrich to introduce a new 26 vehicle lithium-ion fleet to operations.

Through this collaboration, Vaillant is now able to fully retire its lead acid fleet and become a 100% lithium-ion site whilst also gaining economic and operational benefits including a more stable and efficient power source that is faster and easier to use.

The lithium-ion batteries are longer-lasting and more efficient, resulting in a reduction of maintenance costs and reduced risk of dangerous acids or gases being emitted. The new fleet has increased the capacity on some of its larger trucks from 2.5t to 3.5t through a combination of ETV 216i reach trucks and conventional counterbalances, allowing the vehicles to cater for the pressed steel works and tools. The ETV 216i is the core product in the new fleet and is the first reach truck in the world with an integrated lithium-ion battery, aiding the progression towards sustainability goals.

The first five trucks and all tow tractors have now been operational for a month with great reception from employees. During the transition, Vaillant also was able to take advantage of Jungheinrich’s ‘Power By The Hour’ initiative – a flexible way to pay for only the hours the truck is used for – to ensure it remained operational. With the new fleet, Vaillant have been able to eliminate battery change from its operations by utilising opportunity charging through lithium-ion technology.

The new lithium and rapid interim charging times enable a virtually continuous operation on a 24/7 basis and pickers on site have seen improvements in productivity and efficiency as manual handling is reduced with increased uptime. Additionally, Jungheinrich integrated Vaillant’s fleet with automated scales and increased gadgetry on trucks for improved safety.

Vaillant also completed a full warehouse construction upgrade project with Jungheinrich which introduced a new logistics and racking system that optimised storage up to 11m and can accommodate the new ETV 216i trucks. This new and optimised warehouse has increased capacity from 1,100 pallet locations to 4,000.

Training has been a key part of the warehouse upgrade. Vaillant now has six qualified instructors on site that went through the Jungheinrich training at one of the dedicated training centres across the UK. This has allowed Vaillant to assess and validate current employees as well as temporary labour to operate at the extended heights of above 7m that it is now moving into.

It also trialled Jungheinrich’s Virtual Reality Simulator on-site, with a view to be able to provide a safe environment to train and assess employees. Using this VRS, drivers will experience a real-life situation in an environment that holds no risk in the warehouse and non-drivers can gain an appreciation of the role as well as Vaillant benefiting from a digital footprint of operations.

Following on from these vast sustainable improvements and progression of business objectives, Vaillant plans to expand its fleet for 2022 and become 100% lithium-ion powered and plans to use Jungheinrich as its main provider for all types of vehicles including production.

Adrian Ancliff, Head of Production Logistics and Scheduling, Vaillant Industrial, commented: “We have certainly achieved what we wanted to from our partnership with Jungheinrich, and the end design, construction, and way our new warehouse operates is fantastic and has exceeded our expectations. The team was very responsive and excelled to keep us operational throughout.

“Being able to become a 100% lithium-ion site is superb and helps us move much closer to our sustainable goals. Looking to 2022, we plan to expand the fleet and will continue to use Jungheinrich as our main provider. The future is bright, and the future is yellow!”

Neil Warren, Region One Business Director at Jungheinrich, said: “We are thrilled that we can play a role in Vaillant Group’s move to more sustainable operations by transitioning fully from lead-acid gas to lithium-ion technology. This provides huge environmental and economic benefits including efficiency and productivity gains.

“We are very passionate about providing sustainable solutions for our customers that also complement business objectives and so it has been a pleasure to work alongside Vaillant on the upgrade and renewal of its warehouse fleet. We have thoroughly enjoyed our partnership and look forward to an ongoing relationship with Vaillant.”

Gaining an edge through (digital) values

Posted on by David Priestman

Sustainability and digitalisation – these two topics are currently the most important drivers in logistics. This is the conclusion following the successful premiere of Thesen am Tresen – the STILL Logistics Talk during the German Logistics Congress in Berlin. The Hamburg-based intralogistics company STILL is already planning a continuation of the hybrid talk show format for 2022.

Globalisation, digitalisation, environment, automation and security. Those five trend topics were the focus of 40-minute talks for investment decision-makers and logistics enthusiasts during the 38th edition of the German Logistics Congress (20th-22nd October) organised by the German Logistics Association (BVL) e. V. at the InterContinental Hotel. For this new format, STILL transformed the gourmet restaurant “Hugos” on the 14th floor of the hotel into a recording studio with the Berlin skyline as background. Those who were not present at the logistics summit were able to follow the clips live on the internet hosted by logistics journalists Anita Würmser and Thilo Jörgl.

“We received a very positive response both in the recording studio and in social media,” said Frank Müller, Senior Vice President Brand Management & Sales & Service Steering at STILL EMEA. “The audience was not only thrilled by the fact that renowned experts from business and science candidly analysed the current situation in logistics and defended their theses. The relaxed discussion of pointed theories at the bar also proved to be a highly interesting and entertaining format.”

Among the theses discussed were:

  • Can we do without China? How the Corona crisis is changing value chains.
  • Anything but exhaust fumes: This is what the forklift truck of the future looks like.
  • The warehouse is dead. Long live the warehouse! How artificial intelligence is changing logistics.
  • A digital dump is still a dump: How to avoid automating the wrong way.
  • Mostly cloudy: How cloud applications prevent accidents in the warehouse.

“After the successful premiere of these opinionated talks at television level, we have decided to continue the format. Where we will set up the bar again and which theses we want to discuss will be announced in 2022,” says Müller.

Especially well received were the sessions on digitalisation and automation. Kevin Kufs, CEO at Hermes Fulfilment, underlined the importance of functioning high-performance logistics for the economic success of a CEP service provider. “The end customer does not forgive broken promises,” Kufs emphasised. For this reason, Hermes Fulfilment is planning further investments in digital tools but also in several automated logistics centres here in Germany. The time-consuming preparations are already underway.

“A major obstacle to innovative security concepts based on biometric data is data protection legislation,” stated Ansgar Bergmann, Technology & Innovation – CTR, Project Manager of the CTO at the KION Group. In connection with digital projects, Erik Wirsing, Vice President Global Innovation at DB Schenker, warned that companies underestimate the damage caused by hacker attacks: “Without data security, there is no business anymore these days,” was his thesis.

Jakub Piotrowski, CIO/CDO at BLG Logistics, took up the cudgels for cross-company cooperation in data projects because “digitisation will be expensive and the algorithm will determine success”. In the talk on digitalisation, he appealed to companies to act together on simple software projects for economic reasons. In this context, he referred to the topic of open source, so that not every company pushes ahead with the same elaborate software projects, but instead falls back on already existing, accessible programming. This is why BLG Logistics has also joined the Open Logistics Foundation.

In this context, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer IML, referred to the situation in the USA. A large part of the corporate assets generated on the other side of the Atlantic in 2020 were intangible assets, i.e. patents, algorithms and the like. This should be the way to think here in Germany, too. The chances for European companies to lead in the field of material handling in the future are good, according to the scientist.

“Europeans are at the forefront of intralogistics,” said Prof. ten Hompel. In his opinion, more companies should put the two trend topics of swarm intelligence and simulation-based artificial intelligence at the very top of their agendas.

Forging alliances and entering into partnerships – according to contract logistics expert Harald Seifert, this is also the right approach for logistics service providers and shippers to be successful in the future. In the sequence on globalisation, the chairman of the advisory board of Seifert Logistics Group stated that due to supply chain disruptions such as pandemics, strikes or environmental disasters, business-critical items should again be increasingly produced and stored in Europe – even if this is more expensive.

Ralf Düster, board member at Setlog, only partially agreed with him. He predicted that certain sectors, such as the fashion industry, would continue to produce goods largely in Asia. “This is the only way that importers and traders can continue to offer their goods at low prices and remain competitive,” said Düster.

In this context, Christine Mezger-Behan, Vice President Logistics System at KION ITS EMEA, emphasised that dual sourcing is becoming increasingly important for supply chains. In her view, strategically important parts will increasingly be purchased in Europe in the future, while the rest will be purchased in countries with low wage levels: “Each industry must decide for itself what is purchased in Europe and what is not,” said Mezger-Behan.

In addition to digitalisation, sustainability will also be a key issue in the global world of tomorrow. This was the tenor of the sequence on environment and climate. All experts agreed that the share of electric forklift trucks sold worldwide will continue to increase.

Nevertheless, Daniel Küster, Supply Chain Director of Warsteiner Group, does not want to immediately phase out forklift trucks with combustion engines from his fleet. For high-performance applications in the beverage industry in day and night operation, he considers his highly developed combustion engines to be more efficient than electric forklifts. However, like the scientist Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt from the Technical University of Dresden, he expects significantly more powerful energy storage systems to come onto the market in the coming years.

These must, however, also remain affordable, says Küster. “We don’t need show cases but use cases,” Küster demanded at the bar. Rolf Beckmann, Director Engineering at Fiege Logistik Stiftung, added that the current development results of new battery types with sodium-ion technology are promising.

Anyone who missed the live streams can watch the recorded sessions HERE.

Storage Direct launches new website   

Posted on by David Priestman

Storage Direct, the online retail destination for UK-manufactured storage products and solutions for home, warehouse, industrial, office and retail environments, has launched a newly designed and rebranded website.

The new website, with over 2,000 products available to buy online, is more than just a refresh. Based on ongoing research and direct user feedback, it has been rebuilt with the customer in mind. The site features a new brand identity, a modern design and improved functionality, with direct and easy access to help and support for customers engaging online.

Storage Direct has a wealth of experience in serving business customers and consumers. The ecommerce site showcases an extensive range of storage solutions, warehousing equipment, industrial shelving, storage bins, lockers and much more. This online one-stop-shop provides customers with a quick efficient way to order regular requirements like pick bins, plastic boxes, step ladders, warehouse steps, metal lockers, plastic lockers, metal shelving, pallet racking or industrial racking.

With this rebrand and rebuild, Storage Direct has introduced a new generation of technology and ecommerce that underpins a streamlined online customer experience. It is easier to use and navigate, with clear product information, increased online payment facilities and an improved help and support service, complete with online chat available during office hours and new enquiry forms.

The new Storage Direct website reflects insights and in-depth analysis of the ways customers engaged with the online shop over the years. A key requirement was an upgrade of the search function for ease-of-use while on the website. A new filter system directs customers to find exactly what they’re looking for, quickly and easily. There is also immediate help available from expert sales support: customers can use the new reinvigorated online chat platform or engage using traditional methods of contact such as digital enquiry forms or telephone.

Logged-in customers have better visibility of their orders, with the ability to track the order status from their redesigned profile. While logged in, they can also update contact details and edit their basket with a few clicks. Other new features include a “recently viewed” slider for customers to go back to products that they had discovered previously. Best sellers and popular items are clearly visible across the site for easy access, and customers will see the latest deals, offers and competitions as soon as they visit the website.

Storage Direct says its new website is faster, easier to use and much more efficient for customers. It reinforces Storage Direct’s position as a leader in online high-quality storage solutions, showcasing an extensive range of storage products manufactured here in the UK and their approach to supporting clients. It also brings the power of storage through Whittan to support a wider variety of projects. Storage Direct is offering a free bespoke site survey service for customers with larger requirements.

Whittan’s Product Marketing Manager, Tom Campbell, said: “Customers using the new Storage Direct website will immediately see and feel the benefits of the new site. The technical architecture is next generation, providing an enhanced user experience with improved features for better online shopping. At Storage Direct, we want to ensure that all our customers, regardless of their fluency with ecommerce, are provided with the best and most intuitive and efficient service that we can provide.

“As a leading online one-stop-shop we are also increasing our general online presence and engagement to provide the best offers for the highest quality product on the market. We are present on social media, where you can find all our latest deals, offers, information and competitions!”

The new Storage Direct website is accessible online across all laptops and devices, bringing the direct power of storage to customers. Customers can browse through favourites – such as the Linbins range, garage shelving and personal effect lockers – as well as new storage products and offers across shelving, lockers, racking, Linbins, cabinets and cupboards, workbenches and workstations.

The new site reflects the rebranded Storage Direct which forms part of the Whittan Group. Whittan launched a group-wide rebrand with a new look and website earlier this year consolidating storage brands, products and solutions within one unified approach to provide extended capabilities in storage.

Yale celebrates 40 years at Craigavon

Posted on by David Priestman

2021 sees Yale Europe Materials Handling celebrate Craigavon’s four decades of manufacturing excellence in Northern Ireland.

Since the plant opened in April 1981, thousands of lift trucks have been manufactured and exported annually to locations throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. This has resulted in extensive growth for the plant’s operation line, becoming one of the largest volume forklift manufacturers in the UK.

“Over the last four decades, our people have worked together to conquer challenges, embrace new opportunities, and maintain forward momentum, and that is why our facility continues to succeed, evolve, and grow,” said Jim Downey, Plant Manager.

Thanks to the incredible dedication, perseverance, and loyalty from the Craigavon team, the site has achieved numerous accolades. Most notably, OHSAS 18001 accreditation for occupational health and safety, being awarded the Northern Ireland Quality Award in 2011 (EFQM) for areas such as Leadership, People, Strategy and Partnerships, winning the “Best Place to Work” at The Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards in 2013 and more recently, securing the Investors in People Gold Award for effective people management.

The facility maintains a reputation for being equipped with the most up to date manufacturing infrastructure and automated systems. Craigavon continues to build on this with a recent multi-million-pound investment focused specifically towards site development that will generate dozens of new jobs and apprenticeships.

Corporate Responsibility

During the site expansion, the plant has already attained several environmental achievements, with sustainability continuing to be a key driver for the company. The site has achieved ISO 14001 and 50001 certifications for continual commitments to the environment and energy efficiency. As part of the company’s Corporate Responsibility Objectives, the plant aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2026.

With targets set for reducing water consumption, waste, and landfill, the facility now recycles 97% of waste produced as well as incorporating waste reduction initiatives across the plant, right from the canteen kitchen through to the packaging on the assembly lines.

A commitment to biodiversity is also of key importance, with the site encouraging rare wildlife to flourish on its grounds. The latest plant extension incorporates a Sustainable Urban Drainage System, which mimics natural drainage and is more environmentally friendly to protect the surrounding ecosystem.

“Throughout its 40 years, the Craigavon facility has continued to innovate and prove its capability of being an agile and flexible facility, that is able to meet and exceed customer expectations through automation, people and processes. Now is as exciting a time as ever, as we adapt our assembly lines, connect with new technologies, and develop our product ranges, laying the foundations for future growth and many more decades of success,” Downey concludes.

Rushlift wins lucrative global GSE contract

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Rushlift GSE, the specialist airport ground support equipment subsidiary of Doosan Industrial Vehicles UK, has entered into a six-year global framework agreement with airport ground services company, Menzies Aviation, to supply GSE equipment.

Under the arrangement, Rushlift GSE will initially lease 650 brand-new vehicles to Menzies Aviation’s ground handling operations at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The multi-million-pound contract will include the provision of a fleet of pushback tugs and HI loaders from Trepel, mobile conveyor belts and electric baggage and pushback tugs from TLD, and trailers from UK manufacturer TBD. The staged rollout, which is already underway, will continue through to Q2 2022 and is timed to align with the expected resurgence in passenger air travel.

Tim Willett, Operations Director at Rushlift GSE, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Menzies Aviation in supporting their operations at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and for the opportunity to expand our cooperation internationally.

“This contract further underscores Rushlift GSE’s capability to support large corporations. Rushlift are experts in large start-ups, as demonstrated by previous programmes, such as a recent major rollout for easyJet at Gatwick.

“In line with Menzies’ environmental objectives, we will be introducing a number of electric GSE vehicles over the six-year term of the contract. We are also exploring alternative fuel options, including Biofuels and Hydrogen. One of the huge advantages of being a subsidiary of Doosan – a global engineering enterprise – is that we have access to a world-leading team of specialists dedicated to researching sustainable, alternative fuels.”

Stephen Gallagher, SVP GSE and Equipment for Menzies Aviation, said: “The reliability and uptime of our ground handling equipment is absolutely imperative to the service we provide – our reputation depends upon it. We’re confident that Rushlift GSE will provide the GSE and support we’re looking for, both here in the UK and overseas.”

 

STILL UK appoints new managing director

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics systems provider STILL Material Handling UK has appointed Gillian Reed as Managing Director with effect from 1st January 2022.

Reed was formerly Service and Operations Director at STILL UK, where she has been responsible for leading the development of the service team under STILL’s sales and service network.

Speaking about her new role, Reed said: “Like many businesses, the last 12 months has been challenging for STILL UK. However, despite navigating our way through COVID with the support of our excellent team we have strengthened our business model with the formation of our new hybrid sales and service network consisting of direct sales and service, Exclusive Distributors and Regional Partners.

“As I look to the future, the needs and satisfaction of our customers are the foundation of our business and I have been proud to set high standards in our service business with our consistent Net Promotor Score which will remain front and centre for all that we do.”

Reed added. “I am very much looking forward to leading the UK business and it’s fantastic colleagues as we forge ahead with our exciting agenda.”

Reed replaces Torsten Wiecker, who has taken up a new role as Vice President Brand Management STILL EMEA.

Baoli appoints new MD

Posted on by David Priestman

Christian Bischof (pictured) has been appointed to run KION Group’s Baoli brand in the EMEA region with effect from 1st October, 2021. As Managing Director Baoli EMEA S.p.A. he succeeds Francesco Pampuri, who led the organisation on an interim basis since January 1, 2021, and will now focus on brand positioning and marketing activities of the Baoli brand in the EMEA region as Director Brand Management.

“We have a great chance to further explore the market potential in the region with Baoli. especially for the entry-level segment of the material handling market I am seeing very solid growth opportunities in the years to come,” Bischof predicts.

According to him, there are many customers who are looking for entry-level forklift trucks without a wide range of technical options. “Baoli develops and builds industrial trucks that meet precisely these customer requirements.”

To do this, the company makes use of its cost-efficient production base in China and combines this with European development and engineering expertise. “With our competence as well as our experienced international team, we want to contribute to the profitable growth of the traditional and at the same time future-oriented Baoli brand in the EMEA region.”

Christian Bischof, 42, graduated in business administration in Germany and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the United States. Since 2009, he has worked for various companies in the KION Group on different continents. Bischof’s previous positions include Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Linde Hydraulics, Director of Strategy, Business Development and Dealer Network at KION North America and, most recently, Senior Director of Market Intelligence and Corporate Strategy at KION’s headquarters in Frankfurt am Main.

Baoli is a major manufacturer of industrial trucks from Asia with a solid and well-organised structure in Europe, the Middle East and Africa that is not only able to tap into the market but also guarantees a high quality of service. To this end, the subsidiary of the global intralogistics company KION Group has consistently expanded its range of after-sales services in recent years.

The central product and spare parts warehouse in Milan, Italy, covers an area of around 14,000 sq m with an availability of more than 300 trucks ready for delivery and a dedicated spare parts area of 11,000 sq m. The northern Italian city is also home to the Baoli EMEA headquarters.

The Baoli brand targets entry-level customer groups and offers affordable solutions for daily material handling with reliable and easy-to-use equipment. The company offers a comprehensive range of counterbalance trucks, including 3- and 4-wheel electric forklift trucks with load capacities from 1.5 to 3.5t, IC engine-powered forklift trucks from 1.5 to 10.0t, as well as a variety of warehouse equipment such as low lift and high lift pallet trucks.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the international player is currently active in more than 50 countries with a network of over 350 dealers and intends to greatly expand the dealer network.

Cascade Corporation acquires Lift-Tek

Posted on by David Priestman

Cascade Corporation, a global leader in the manufacturing of lift truck attachments, forks and related technologies, has successfully completed the acquisition of mast manufacturer Lift Technologies, Inc. (USA) and Lift-Tek Elecar S.p.A. (Italy) – more commonly known as Lift-Tek – from Calvi Holding S.p.A as wholly owned subsidiaries.

Lift-Tek is a major global manufacturer of masts, including models in two, three, four and five stage configurations, with capacities up to 52t for a wide variety of applications. Products are used on both electric and internal combustion (IC) lift trucks, very narrow aisle lift trucks, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), telehandlers and more.

Established in 1999, Lift-Tek is recognised by OEMs in the industry for high quality mast products and years of expertise in materials handling. With manufacturing facilities located in Westminster, South Carolina, USA and Piacenza, Italy, Lift-Tek currently serves the North American and European markets as well as international customers.

“We look forward to this new chapter in our company’s history,” says Angelo Ceresa, Board Member of Lift-Tek Elecar S.p.A. “We believe working together with Cascade brings excellent new potential to our operations and that our customers will benefit greatly from this development.”

The acquisition gives the company the unique opportunity to bundle Lift-Tek masts with Cascade attachments for those customers who require a custom solution for the front end of their lift truck or automated guided vehicle (AGV). With Lift-Tek’s special engineering capabilities combined with Cascade’s latest attachment technologies, such as mobile weighing and sensing capabilities, the acquisition provides opportunities for synergy and growth when it comes to product development for digitally integrated solutions.

“Lift-Tek’s reputation for quality products makes them a natural fit for the Cascade family,” says Davide Roncari, President & CEO of Cascade Corporation. “Together, we will be able to provide enhanced options for those customers in need of specialized, integrated mast/attachment solutions.”

Lift-Tek will continue normal operations as independent subsidiaries under Cascade Corporation ownership.

Hoppecke launches new heavy-duty battery

Posted on by David Priestman

In highly intensive operations, handling equipment and its traction batteries are often pushed to the limit during daily use. To tackle this, industrial battery specialist Hoppecke has launched a new range, purpose-designed for heavy-duty applications.

Featuring a unique ‘Connect Four’ structure, the trak | uplift quadro offers four essential advantages: running times are longer, as the technology delivers up to 75% more usable capacity compared to a classic PzS cell under load; meanwhile, a fast-charging capability ensures better battery availability; opportunity charging is possible without intensive equalisation charging; and a Protective Shell Separator prevents short circuits due to mossing.

The trak | uplift quadro’s higher efficiency translates into energy savings of up to 8%. There are fewer cable temperature issues too, as the battery runs cooler for longer, effectively extending its service life.

A new design incorporates an optimised pole and electrode concept. A reduced cell height, special copper inserts, four poles instead of two and optimised connection of the electrodes all add up to enhanced conductivity. The trak |uplift quadro also has a significantly reduced internal resistance compared to the standard lead-acid battery. Consequently, the voltage level during discharge is stabilised, resulting in excellent high-current capability.

Hoppecke’s UK General Manager, Stuart Browne, said: “We’re really excited about the new trak | uplift quadro, which is purpose-designed to cope with high-tonnage trucks and intensive operations where equipment typically runs all day.

“Thanks to extended running times, high efficiency and a long lifecycle, the range is inherently flexible, making it ideally suited to demanding applications such as construction, engineering and agriculture.”

Compatible with standard PzS chargers, the trak | uplift quadro is available in three variants.

The standard 48-120v lead-acid battery comes with an electrolyte level indicator. Another battery incorporates electrolyte circulation to eliminate acid stratification. The system switches on automatically and is practically maintenance-free. Finally, the trak | uplift quadro iQ comprises a high-current battery with smart charging and intelligent control. It offers increased flexibility, as charging times are improved by up to three hours. This variant also enjoys the lowest maintenance costs, and energy consumption is reduced by up to 19%.

The new trak | uplift quadro range is available from Hoppecke and all reputable MHE suppliers.

Hyster maintains strong environmental impetus

Posted on by David Priestman

Hyster Company has set ambitious environmental goals to achieve by 2026. Now at the halfway point, Hyster reveals the progress so far of its green manufacturing initiatives and innovative products and solutions designed to help customers achieve their sustainability goals.

“Part of the overall goal is to significantly reduce our global carbon footprint,” explains Conal McNally, Environmental Engineer for Hyster Europe. “Moreover, environmental targets have been set to reduce carbon emissions, VOC emissions from painting operations, and hazardous waste all by 30%, and water consumption by 20%. We also aim to achieve zero waste landfill at all sites and to offer a greater range of alternative products that enable customers to cut emissions cost-effectively.”

Most manufacturing processes tend to create waste. As a global manufacturer of industrial products, Hyster recognises the importance of responsible material use and is pushing to mitigate its waste footprint across all aspects of the value chain. The majority of waste created in the manufacturing of Hyster lift trucks is now being recycled.

For instance, in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, where Hyster Big Trucks are produced, any non-recyclable waste is incinerated in the Netherlands’ cleanest burning facility, and any excess heat is used for heating in the factory building and nearby homes. Solar panels have also been fitted to provide some of the power to the site.

“We have already achieved our goal of zero landfill waste at our manufacturing site in Nijmegen,” adds McNally. “And the plant producing Hyster trucks in Craigavon, UK, has also been extended with similar green initiatives at the centre of its design and build.”

The new building design includes a smarter approach to heating, a more effective use of natural light, the creation of areas for biodiversity, and a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) amongst other important initiatives. 97% of waste from the site is now recycled, and waste to landfill has reduced by almost 45%.  A specialist at the site is working to use materials responsibly in the packaging of Hyster products, and to increasingly make packaging recyclable and sustainable.

To further support the reduction in its carbon footprint, Hyster also employs low-emission methods to deliver finished trucks to customers, wherever possible. Hyster ReachStackers, for instance, can be transported by barge from the Nijmegen facility to the main port of Zeebrugge in the Netherlands. Transport on the water reduces the number of trucks on the road, helping save on fuel consumption.

“As well as implementing sustainable manufacturing processes, we are also evolving the complete range of Hyster products towards low or zero emissions with key advances in technology and truck design.,” says McNally. “From Big Trucks used in ports and terminals, right down to low-capacity lift trucks in busy logistics operations, Hyster products increasingly incorporate a range of clean energy solutions.”

For example, innovative applications of lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells are enabling Hyster to develop zero-emission Container Handlers and ReachStackers for the first time.

Plus, Stage V engines that comply with EU emission regulations are introduced for Hyster Big Trucks, with capacities of 8t or more, helping businesses comply with emissions legislation, while also heightening productivity, and reducing the cost of ownership for the customer.

In 2021 the Hyster J10-18XD lift trucks (pictured) were also launched, featuring lithium-ion battery packs and up to 18t lift capacity, for comparable performance to ICE trucks, but with zero emissions.  This follows the recent launch of the 7-9t lift capacity, J7.0-9.0XNL series of electric lift trucks, with fully integrated lithium-ion batteries and rapid opportunity charging.

“A big part of our green approach is supporting customers across multiple industry sectors in their own sustainability objectives with the right products, and the right aftermarket solutions, such as carbon-neutral lubricants,” says McNally.

Some Hyster Big Trucks for the European market are prefilled with Shell’s carbon-neutral engine oil, and it is also in use at the factory producing Hyster lift trucks in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.

“The demand for sustainability is growing across all areas of the materials handling industry, to comply with legislation, company environmental targets, and CSR policies,” says McNally.  “Like many of our customers, we are closely monitoring our performance and progress against our own environmental goals and continue to strive for ambitious targets in EMEA. Similar progress is also being made by Hyster in JAPIC and the Americas.”

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.