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Tag: Materials Handling

EP forklift importer gets finance boost

Posted on by David Priestman

DF Capital has partnered with Handling Equipment UK Ltd to help support its dealers in the UK electric forklift market.

Handling Equipment UK is the UK importer of EP Equipment material handling machines. Based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, it is a family-run business that employs 20 people. It currently works with over 40 material handling dealers in the UK.

DF Capital was initially approached by EP Equipment, a leading global manufacturer specialising in lithium-powered warehouse equipment. There is growing interest in EP Equipment’s Li battery-powered forklifts because these particular vehicles can now do everything a diesel or gas machine can do – including working outside – and they don’t produce any emissions when they are being used.

EP Equipment is continually expanding its footprint in the UK via distributor partners and introduced DF Capital to Handling Equipment UK. Handling Equipment UK was importing increasing numbers of EP material handling machines into the UK for supply to dealers and therefore was looking for a bespoke facility to support this activity.

A tailored £1m floorplan facility was created for qualifying dealers which provided Handling Equipment UK with the peace of mind to take orders, knowing they would be paid immediately. This also eased cashflow and managed any financial risk. A unique 60-day cost-free floorplan facility is offered to a number of qualifying dealers, allowing them to hold additional stock to meet the growing demand for the lithium-powered units, as they know that funding is guaranteed to them.

Handling Equipment UK has sold in excess of 200 EP electric forklifts in the last year.  Due to the considerable demand for the units, the company estimates that double this amount will be sold in 2022 and then twice as many again in 2023.  The inventory finance facility from DF Capital will aid this growth.

Andy Williams, managing director at Handling Equipment UK Ltd, commented: “The clock is ticking for companies across Britain, aiming to do their part to cut carbon emissions and meet stringent government targets. As part of this, electric forklifts are vital as part of the way forward and we have seen massive demand for them over the last couple of years.

“EP Equipment in particular has developed a first-rate machine that is both well-priced and ticks the ‘environmentally green’ box. The only thing missing – until now – was a sensible and flexible way to finance them, particularly when customers wanted to try before they bought them.

“We are delighted to be working with DF Capital because of its vast expertise in running floorplan facilities and the fact that it is providing us with the holy grail with its rental scheme.”

Brian Warbrick, head of vendor origination at DF Capital, said: “We’d been talking to EP Equipment for a while and it’s a pleasure to partner with one of its key distributors. Boosting environmental sustainability is always at the top of our agenda at DF Capital – we work with a number of innovative and ‘green’ companies and the electric materials handing market is a very exciting one and key to helping lower CO2 emissions.

“Handling Equipment UK is a rapidly growing player in this space and we are glad that we were able to help it support its dealers in a way that no other funder could.”

 

Combilift wins family business award

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Combilift has been recognised as the overall winner of the Energia Family Business of the Year 2021.

Energia, the largest supplier of 100% Green Energy in Ireland, recently hosted its bi-annual awards ceremony virtually, with 19 awards being presented to Irish family businesses. The awards celebrate generations of families who work together and this year’s ceremony focussed on honouring businesses who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and resilience throughout the Covid-19 pandemic while continuing to thrive and grow.

Around 200 family business entries were submitted for consideration by the judging panel. Criteria for success was a business which has drawn on its family values to build a successful company, one which acts as a great ambassador for the sector and makes a significant contribution to society and the wider economy.

Combilift was nominated for two categories, Innovative Family Business Award and Manufacturing & Engineering Family Business of the Year. As the company claimed gold in both of these, it was  therefore eligible for the top award, the Energia Family Business of the Year 2021.

Combilift’s CEO and co-founder Martin McVicar commented: “Combilift are thrilled to receive both category awards and of course the overall Family Business award. We’d like to thank the sponsors of our awards, Energia and also NSIA, and the jury for recognising our company and its achievements with these prestigious accolades. This means so much to our team here in Combilift and their families, we are all very proud, and will celebrate accordingly!”

 

Open Logistics Foundation established

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Dachser, DB Schenker, duisport and Rhenus have established the Open Logistics Foundation. The purpose of the non-profit foundation is to build a European open-source community aiming to promote digitalisation in logistics and supply chain management based on open source and standardise logistics processes through de facto standards. Not only is a technology initiative like this unique in logistics to date, the founding members are also taking on a pioneering role as to the future topic of open source.

“We want to drive the digitalisation of logistics forward together. That is why open source is an important success factor for the entire logistics industry and, at the same time, a driver for harmonised processes in digital supply chains. We consider the Open Logistics Foundation to be the first step towards a platform economy based on European legal standards and values. It is both a beginning and an appeal to the logistics sector to think of technology and processes together and actively participate in the open-source community,” the founding members declared in a joint statement. Now it is about anchoring open source in the logistics sector and implementing the internal structures to work with the corresponding hardware and software.

The foundation addresses all logistics-related companies and their IT developers. Through Open Logistics e.V., the funding association, which was also founded in Berlin, it is open to new members from all areas of logistics, ranging from industry, retail and services to freight forwarders and political organisations. Numerous companies already announced their participation in the funding association, including AEB, BLG Logistics Group, GS1 Germany, Lobster Logistics Cloud and the Bochum-based Setlog Holding, but also associations such as the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung.

The core of the foundation’s work is the operation of the so-called Open Logistics Repository, a technical platform on which software and hardware interfaces reference implementations and components available as open-source under a free license (permissive license). All tools and components will be free of charge without restriction for commercial applications to promote broad acceptance within the logistics sector. Companies may use them, for example, to expand their platforms or to set up new products and business models faster.

The open-source approach guarantees an open standard for digitalising logistics processes while offering a significant degree of flexibility for individual customisation. Companies that use open source are usually more productive, reduce costs and prevent being tied to proprietary software. Another advantage is that the software solutions are not isolated, but all components are compatible, facilitating digital networking beyond company boundaries.

The main tasks of the foundation also include identifying collaborative projects to be included in the repository. It monitors the quality of the open-source software and guarantees neutrality in its development. Furthermore, it offers training for companies on how to work with the platform.

The set-up phase of the platform will take place in the coming year. In Berlin, some open-source projects have already been named, for example the first open-source digital consignment note (eCMR) as well as implementations for the digital load carrier exchange or the AGV interface VDA 5050. Further developments from the community will be added in the future.

On the foundation’s establishment, the board members were appointed. Jochen Thewes (Chairman), CEO of DB Schenker, Dr. Stephan Peters (Vice Chairman), Member of the Board of Rhenus, and Stefan Hohm (Vice Chairman), CDO of Dachser, were elected to the Executive Board. The Advisory Board is made up of Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel (Chairman), Managing Director of the Fraunhofer IML, and Markus Bangen, CEO of duisport, as well as Jakub Piotrowski CIO/CDO of BLG Logistics Group.

The Open Logistics Foundation was initiated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML as part of its Silicon Economy research project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) with €25m. More than 150 researchers are working on an open-source software and hardware infrastructure that enables companies to process their business operations in an automated way and to offer and use services and data securely across different platforms beyond company boundaries. The software and hardware created during the project duration until 2023 and the developments from the community Open Logistics Foundation will form the basis of the Open Logistics Foundation’s repository.

Statements

“If we want to digitise logistics successfully, we have to overcome silo structures. Hardware and software from open source can and will make a significant contribution to achieving this. The benefits are impressively simple: Everyone uses the same freight documents, for example, and everyone plans routes or offers tracking and tracing. In this respect, we want to jointly develop IT standards in logistics beyond company boundaries and make the results accessible to everyone. This open-source approach is intended to replace individual investments in the digitalisation of commodities. Every company will benefit from this.” Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker, Chairman of the Board of the Open Logistics Foundation

“Digitalisation is not an end in itself. It overcomes interfaces and pays off higher-level goals such as transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. Above all, however, it must also be economically feasible and successful on the market. 100 percent digital is not a dream, but our common future in more and more use cases. The open-source concept guarantees an open standard for digitalising logistics processes while offering a high degree of flexibility for individual adaptations. By founding the Open Logistics Foundation, we have laid the basis for the era of open source in logistics.” Dr. Stephan Peters, Member of the Board of Rhenus SE & Co. KG, Vice Chairman of the Open Logistics Foundation

“Intelligent logistics is based on high-performance IT systems. This principle has applied at Dachser for many decades and will certainly remain so. However, it hardly makes sense to program every line of code in a standard application yourself. This is neither economical nor does it provide a competitive advantage. On the contrary, quite often, it even prevents the pragmatic networking of partners and customers. Therefore, it is advantageous for all supply chain parties, if in the future, that selected software components are available to everyone free of charge as open-source elements and continuously updated via a neutral authority. Open source thus becomes another important competitive factor, and that is why we have supported the idea of the Open Logistics Foundation since the very beginning.” Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer (CDO), Dachser SE, Vice Chairman of the Open Logistics Foundation

“The logistics sector must become more software-driven to play a role in the forthcoming platform economy and to self-determine its future based on European legal standards and values. Digitisation is the goal, and open source is the key to taking all companies along this journey, regardless of size and sector. Dachser, DB Schenker, duisport and Rhenus have laid the basis with their donation of the non-profit Open Logistics Foundation. Now it’s a matter of what the logistics sector turns it into.” Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Open Logistics Foundation.

“After the presentation of the Open Logistics Foundation, it was clear to the Port of Duisburg very quickly that we would like to get involved. The primary goals of our commitment are an industry-wide dialogue, the identification of overarching challenges, and the creation of urgently needed standards to make cross-location collaboration technologically easier. The bundling of resources and topics offers us the unique opportunity to set de facto standards instead of creating further monoliths. The digitalisation of logistics can only be advanced by working together. The early involvement of all stakeholders creates important internal structures and also promotes the mutual exploration of existing needs and necessities as well as the identification of available resources.” Markus Bangen, Chairman of the Executive Board of Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport), Member of the Advisory Board of the Open Logistics Foundation

About the Foundation

The Open Logistics Foundation is a non-profit and operationally working foundation based in Dortmund that fosters open-source applications in logistics. The foundation’s primary purpose is to build a European open-source community to promote digitalisation in logistics and supply chain management based on open source and standardise logistics processes utilising de facto standards. The foundation operates the repository, a technical platform for open-source software (OSS) and hardware (OSH).

It makes interfaces, reference implementations and components available via open-source under a free license (permissive license). It monitors the quality and security of the open-source tools and guarantees neutrality in its development. The Open Logistics Foundation works based on European legal standards and values, it is independent and addresses IT developers and users from all areas of logistics.

The Open Logistics Foundation was initiated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) as part of the “Silicon Economy” project. The founding members are Dachser, DB Schenker, duisport and Rhenus; other companies support the organisation. The foundation is open to further members through its funding association, Open Logistics e.V.

Deadline approaches for IFOY entries

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The application period for the IFOY AWARD 2022 is entering the finishing phase. Suppliers of products and solutions can apply only this week. The application portal at www.ifoy.org is open until 30th October, 2021. In addition to forklifts, warehouse technology and special vehicles, automated guided vehicle (AGVs), shuttles, robots, cargo bikes, drones, cranes, software and apps as well as successfully implemented, integrated warehouse solutions are also eligible for application.

Furthermore, outstanding technical details or components, such as ergonomic innovations, safety solutions or automation components, are also awarded. In the “Start-up of the Year” category, newly-founded companies with innovative prototypes or functional developments can apply for an IFOY AWARD.

Due to its expertise, the IFOY AWARD is considered the most important innovation award in intralogistics. The election by an international jury selected from internationally renowned trade journalists and the leading logistics media – including Logistics Business as the sole UK media representative – is preceded by an extensive audit with nomination and test cycles. The equipment and solutions nominated for the final undergo individually tailored driving or functional tests, including the test protocol comprising around 80 criteria and the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, on the occasion of the IFOY TEST DAYS from 18th – 23rd March, 2022 at the Messe Dortmund exhibition centre.

In addition, jurors and their teams of advisors from the business world will travel to examine the finalists themselves before casting their vote. As part of IFOY TEST DAYS, TEST CAMP Intralogistics will be held again in 2022, admitting B2B trade visitors interested in innovation. The number of participants is limited.

Applications can only be submitted online HERE.

Doosan upgrades electric forklift range 

Posted on by David Priestman

Doosan, a leading manufacturer of robust high-performance forklift trucks, has unveiled a major upgrade to its successful BT/BX 7 Plus Series electric counterbalance forklift trucks, bringing advanced performance-enhancing design and improved capabilities to the three and four wheeled, 1.5-to-3.5-tonne, mid-market product range.

Designed to deliver simple, powerful performance in even the harshest of operating environments, Doosan says its BT/BX 7 Plus models have now been upgraded, resulting in enhanced braking, reduced noise levels, greater cooling performance, and extra driving comfort. Further advantages include: more efficient ergonomics, new safety features as standard – plus greater choice on options – and improved waterproofing for better all-weather performance and reliability.

Safety upgrade

Safety has been stepped-up a gear with Doosan’s all-round braking system, which includes the Doosan Electric magnetic auto Parking Brake (EPB) and Electric Foot Brake (EFB) systems, together with an unlimited ramp-hold capability. With the EPB system the parking brake automatically activates when the driver leaves the seat, ensuring safety around the vehicle, and with the new EFB system brakes are automatically applied as soon as the operator’s foot lifts off the accelerator pedal.

In the cab, clever design features, greater driver comfort and well thought-out ergonomics go hand-in-hand with safer working. The new improved mast design significantly reduces mast oscillation, which allows the operator to safely manoeuvre when the mast is fully elevated. In addition, Doosan’s optional Guardian Stability System (GSS) ensures safe handling by automatically reducing travel speed as a load is elevated.

Further safety improvements include: a newly designed overhead guard with angled roof bars for a clearer upward view, a large panoramic mirror for better rear visibility and a new fence-light feature that offers a warning to pedestrians by projecting red lines around the vehicle. In addition, optional front and rear safety lights are available for extra visibility.

Extra options

An optional feature on the new models is fingertip controls. Fast, precise and fully adjustable fingertip control makes hard work effortless and efficient. Also, with the NFC Start option, security has been improved, allowing only authorised employees to operate the vehicle.

Doosan says operator comfort has been significantly upgraded with the introduction of a new Doosan low-vibration, shock-absorbing seat, with full suspension adjustable up to 150kg and far greater armrest control.

Noise levels have been markedly improved too. The combination of a low-noise drive axle and a new sound suppression design has resulted in a 37% reduction in sound intensity compared to the previous model, creating a far more comfortable working environment for both driver and those working close by.

In keeping with Doosan’s reputation for rugged design and reliable performance, the latest models have improved waterproofing, offering protection against water and dirt in the harshest of outdoor applications, whatever the weather. All connectors are water protected to IP67, controllers sealed and rated to IP65 and motors and pumps offer full dust and water protection to IP43 rating. Electric motor cooling performance has been improved too, with a new centralised cooling fan.

Productivity boost

Helping to maximise productivity and improve safety within busy operational environments, Doosan’s new, improved curve speed control system automatically reduces the vehicle’s travel speed to an optimum level when cornering, reducing the risk of accidents and damage – allowing operators to perform everyday handling tasks with greater confidence.

Further efficiency gains can be achieved in battery changing operations, with Side Lift In and Lift Out (SLIO) and Side Roll In and Roll Out (SRIO) design, allowing fast changeover of batteries for multi-shift operations. Helping to reduce valuable warehouse space, a tighter turning radius on the new BT/BX 7 Plus models offer businesses the potential to move to a more compact racking layout, with narrower aisle widths.

Warehouse automation market set to boom

Posted on by David Priestman

Research from Interact Analysis shows that the global warehouse automation market will grow from $29.6bn in 2020 to $69bn in 2025. The information has been released in the latest edition of the company’s global warehouse automation report.

Fixed automation such as AS/RS, conveyors and conveyor-based sorters will remain the most common form of automation for the foreseeable future, but there is a rapidly growing trend for warehouses to adopt more flexible mobile automation solutions.

Owing to the pandemic, many companies saw a plateau in warehouse automation revenue, whilst order intake increased significantly. This was due to delays in project completion and supply chain limitations. As a result of this, Interact Analysis predicts that between 2021 and 2022 the warehouse automation market will endure a period of stabilization as the market re-equilibrates and catches up on the back log of orders. By 2022 the market will have returned to normal and will be facing a permanently accelerated rate of post-pandemic growth.

Dematic and Honeywell Intelligrated continue to retain the greatest market share. Dematic leads the way, with 10% of the market and impressive revenue growth of 31% in 2020 (compared to 14% in 2019). Meanwhile, Honeywell Intelligrated grew by 13% in 2020. Interestingly, Knapp’s order intake grew by 55% in 2020 while its revenues decreased by 1% due to project delays caused by the pandemic.

Driven by China and Japan, APAC retains its title of having the largest market share for warehouse automation with a market size of $11bn in 2020. A significant proportion of growth within the Americas and EMEA markets is predicted to come from the general merchandise and grocery sectors. Interestingly, these sectors are less prominent in APAC, where they together account for 29% of the warehouse automation market (compared to 42% and 45% of EMEA and the Americas respectively).

Rueben Scriven, Senior Analyst at Interact Analysis, said: “The general merchandise segment is the single largest segment in warehouse automation, and it is predicted to grow at a faster rate than the overall market, with revenues hitting $20bn by 2025. General merchandise is driven by companies such as JD.com, Amazon and Target, all of which have heavily benefited from the COVID-inspired e-commerce boost.

“By 2025, general merchandise will account for 28% of the market. However, the single fastest-growing vertical market is grocery, which is projected to grow from 12% of the market in 2020 to 16% in 2025.”

Battery maker Sunlight records 68% growth

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Sunlight, a member of the international investment Olympia Group, has published strong financial results for H1 2021 with an 180% increase in EBITDA and 68% increase in turnover, compared to H1 2020. Recording yet another robust financial performance, the company continues implementing its diverse investment plan in facilities, infrastructure, expansion, R&D and human resources. Simultaneously, Sunlight continues maximising production capacity for lead-acid and lithium-ion energy storage systems, as well as developing, producing, and launching new products.

Turnover for Sunlight in H1 2021 amounted to €126m compared to €75m during the same period last year, i.e. a 68% increase. This is attributed to the dynamic repositioning of #in the global market and the addition of new customers, as well as the trust in the company firmly exhibited by the existing customers. Combined with the swift recovery of the market, the company was well-prepared to develop more rapidly than its competitors.

Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant drawbacks to the sector due to certain shortages – for example in semiconductors, used in industrial vehicles and lithium batteries – Sunlight’s positive H1 2021 performance is a testament to its resilience and agility to respond to both challenges and emerging opportunities.

Sunlight also announced that its adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation) for H1 2021 amounted to €13.1m, compared to €4.7m recorded in H1 2020. The impressive 180% surge is due to an increase in sales and reduction of production cost – especially in the motive batteries range – the addition of new OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) customers, and the expansion of the company’s product portfolio.

Two new and innovative products were launched in H1 2021: the semi-traction lithium-ion battery, ElectroLife, and the Battery Management System for lead-acid energy storage systems, KnoWi.

Commenting on the release of the H1 2021 financial results, Sunlight CEO, Lampros Bisalas, noted: “I’m very proud of Sunlight’s strong first half performance. The results show that we’re effectively monitoring and addressing an unprecedented situation, such as the one defined by the pandemic. We accurately identify and navigate risks via robust business planning and efficient mitigation actions. We overcome challenges and create opportunities to complete our transformation into a fast-paced and rapidly growing technology company that specialises in integrated and innovative energy storage solutions and contributes to a more sustainable future.

“The market is facing strong pressure due to the increased prices of raw material and this is anticipated to affect the wider supply chain for at least the next 12 months. Despite the uncertainty, we feel confident that we shall maintain our positive financial performance for the entire year, and that we have the foundation to perform even better in the years to come.”

To further increase production and, consequently, growth, Sunlight is implementing a strategic and diverse investment plan to expand the capacity of both lead-acid and lithium-ion energy storage products. This includes the upgrade of the company’s units in Greece (Xanthi and Komotini), Italy (Verona) and USA (North Carolina), with the installation of infrastructure, state-of-the-art machinery, and automated assembly lines. This 5-year business plan entails a total investment of €560m.

Investments are also ongoing in human capital. On 30th June, 2021, Sunlight and its subsidiaries collectively employed 1,206 personnel, i.e., 229 people or 23.4% more than H1 2020. Just the R&D (Research & Development) department has been staffed with 70+ highly skilled researchers and scientists, while the company is dedicated to attracting the most talented professionals available – from both Greece and abroad. And in doing so, maintain and increase its contribution to social security and taxes, which marked a significant 21% rise between H1 2020 and H1 2021.

Sunlight continues its transformation to a technology-agnostic company making the most of Industry 4.0 principles – including use of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning Tools. The company also continues upgrading and digitising its production process. And it continues offering better flexibility, functionality and performance in the development, manufacturing and distribution of lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries for industrial and consumer applications.

AR Racking appoints sales director for southern Europe

Posted on by David Priestman

AR Racking, a specialist in industrial storage solutions, has appointed Jimmy Andersson as its new Sales Director for Southern Europe. Andersson will therefore be responsible for leading the commercial management of the company’s adjustable pallet racking storage system projects in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Andersson joined the company at the end of 2017 to head up the sales management of the Nordic countries, Eastern Europe and South Africa, a position that he will continue to hold and combine with his new role.

“I embark on this new stage with the goal of positioning AR Racking as the undisputed leading supplier of comprehensive storage solutions in Southern European countries and to continue with the growth we have been experiencing in Northern and Eastern markets on the continent,” stated Andersson.

 

Conveying the right solution

Posted on by David Priestman

Japanese engineering specialist Itoh Denki believes it can help integrators and OEMs looking to find intralogistics conveying solutions for the new economy. Logistics Business magazine editor Paul Hamblin reports.

In a logistics world in which there needs to be room for businesses of all shapes and sizes, it follows that the conventional logistics model needs to be challenged. Yes, the big players will still need their large Build-to-Suit warehouses, and vast, multi-tenanted logistics parks are undoubtedly here to stay. But what about ecommerce providers looking for professional, fast logistics?

These companies might be small – but they might grow very fast, in which case they need agility, flexibility. Most of all, they want ease of payment alongside ease of use. Not for them the vast capital expenditures on logistics of those giants who can make such facilities so cost-effective. Ideally, they want state-of-the-art logistics capability without necessarily needing the building asset that goes with it.

Japanese-founded engineering specialist Itoh Denki, which has worked with integrators and OEMs in logistics for many decades in the supply of rollers and conveying components, has recognised this pattern. It has identified a trend, notably in Japan where land use is at a premium, but increasingly in Europe, for multi-storey, multi-tenanted logistics spaces deployed with a pay-per-use sharing model.

“Think of it as Hotel Logistics,” quips Tatsuya (Ted) Akashi, Itoh Denki MD Europe. “You come and go as agreed, you can stay for longer if you wish and you only pay for those times.”

Recognising that reliable, flexible sortation is key to this business model, Itoh Denki has brought its Diverter-Centric Sorting to the market. Best known for Motorised Driver Roller (MDR) technology, Itoh Denki’s footprint in Europe has now expanded to include a fully capable Amsterdam Tech Centre to complement its base in St Pierre, France where the MDRs are given final assembly.

Alexander Gigerl, Technical Sales Manager, explains the Diverter-Centric sorting business case by pointing out that the high throughput of the traditional crossbelt sorter comes with a correspondingly high cost. He says that Itoh Denki’s F-RAT (Flat Right Angle Transfer) will bring down those costs dramatically, but without necessarily the very high throughputs some customers require. The company’s MABS (Multi Angle Ball Sorter) also brings with it considerable cost savings versus the cross belt but with three times the throughput of the FRAT. The combination means that Itoh Denki can offer a powerful hybrid solution to suit a variety of budgets and requirements.

An enormous variety of package sizes can be smoothly transported, even the most fragile loads. The list of benefits includes the flexibility and scalability that comes from a fully modular system. Maintenance and service is another plus, because faults can be sourced and fixed quickly via this modularity, without unnecessary and profit-killing downtime. Safety and comfort of workers is promised by the optimised footprint of the layout and the super-quiet, no pneumatics, 24v DC power source.

It is fully CE compliant, which means costs will not be incurred in installing extra safety facilities or barriers in the vicinity. Energy efficiency is assured by on-demand operation, the motor driven only when a load enters the zone.

The central 90° technology of the F-RAT offers the benefit of transfer without changing levels. Meanwhile, the MABS solution offers 30, 45 and 90° transfer.

Itoh Denki emphasises that it will not be selling direct to end users and will continue to work with its established OEM partners to ensure end user customer delight.

Halo Bar offers mounting options on Flexi trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

The Halo Bar is an innovative new accessory option developed by Narrow Aisle Ltd for use with all models in the extensive Flexi Truck range of articulated lift truck-based intralogistics very narrow aisle (VNA) storage solutions .

Developed as a mounting for radio data terminals (RDTs), hands-free order-picking screens, label printers etc, the Halo Bar is quickly and easily fitted to a Flexi Truck’s chassis.

Its sturdy U-shaped design sits to the fore of the Flexi’s steering column and at its highest point the top of the Halo Bar’s arc curves below the steering wheel to ensure unobstructed operator forward vision – even when several RDT screens or printers are fitted.

In addition to its role as a computer mounting accessory, the Halo Bar allows stepping into and down from the Flexi’s cab even easier for operators. Operators simply grip the bar’s strong 40mm diameter steel tube with one hand when entering and exiting the Flexi during stock picking operations. This ‘single handed’ entry and exit functionality is both comfortable and safe and, in pre-launch trials, proved extremely popular with operators.

The Halo Bar’s dual functionality makes Flexi models highly suited to modern storage facilities that use screen-based pick lists and fulfilment centres where a high degree of picking and order assembly work takes place alongside full pallet movements.

John Maguire, Narrow Aisle’s managing director, comments: “The Halo Bar is a simple design but we believe that it represents a valuable and ergonomically advanced alternative to, for example, attaching in-cab computer terminals to a truck’s overhead guard which can obstruct the operator’s forward visibility when stacking loads.

“It is becoming quite common to see trucks in operation at some bigger sites with several truck-mounted, hands-free data terminals. The Halo Bar is designed to allow numerous devices to be positioned securely in the optimum viewing position without obstructing the operator’s forward or upward visibility.

“Also, the Halo Bar’s role as a convenient grip helps reduce the physical effort involved in getting on and off of the truck. With the range of operations undertaken within a modern warehouse continuing to grow significantly due to the rise of e-commerce, materials handling equipment is expected to carry out multiple tasks. So, at sites where a Flexi Truck operator is required to take on order picking and order assembly in addition to picking and putting away full pallet loads, the Halo Bar is particularly beneficial.”

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