pedestrian stacker Archives

Bespoke Forklift Solution for Bearings Supplier

Posted on 13 November, 202425 July, 2025 by Keith McKinley

For Bowman International, a leading supplier, manufacturer, and distributor of plain bearings and sintered parts, success had created storage problems. Determined to make the most of its existing Abingdon facilities, the company turned to Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks’ warehousing specialists for a solution.

“Our specific requests were quite unique,” explains Bowman International Managing Director, Paul Mitchell. “We needed to use our cubic capacity to its full advantage. The problem was that by continuing to use our existing stacker with its limited lift height, we would be wasting valuable space. The alternatives were to either acquire an additional building or replace the stacker with an articulated forklift — both at considerable cost. Making that change also posed the risk of disruption because staff would be unfamiliar with how the equipment works. That’s when we called in Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks.”

After carefully assessing the situation, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks came up with a cost-effective combination involving new racking and a bespoke stacker capable of working in very tight, 2.4m aisles and reaching heights of more than 7m. In doing so, this innovative solution maximised the potential storage space and freed up additional space for offices.

Rebecca Foggin, Sales Executive at the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks distributor takes up the story. “Our engineers were able to configure a stacker with an exceptionally compact junior chassis. Importantly, the AXiA truck we recommended features a lithium-ion battery which not only cuts running costs but can be opportunity charged during breaks, ensuring non-stop availability.”

Summing up, Mitchell said, “The change has proved extremely successful. We were initially concerned that the transition to the new model might slow down our operations, but the opposite was true. The new truck was an immediate success with operators, who love the smooth handling and highly responsive performance. Indeed, the solution delivered by Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has been a success in every way, saving us the cost of acquiring an additional building plus all the associated overheads that would have been incurred. I’ve also been impressed by the ongoing support shown by the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks team, who have arranged six-monthly visits to inspect the stacker and also provide any additional advice and assistance.”

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New Pallet Racking Solution

Unbeatably Manoeuvrable, Safe to Operate

Posted on 22 August, 202325 July, 2025 by Keith McKinley

Clark has launched a new, manoeuvrable high-lift truck with lithium-ion technology. The SWX16, with a load capacity of 1.6t, is suitable for transporting goods over short distances in industry, trade and distribution. Thanks to its extraordinary manoeuvrability, the compact high-lift truck is unbeatable when it comes to moving goods quickly and safely in confined spaces with a hand-operated device – whether in the warehouse pre-zone or at the high rack.

The pedestrian stacker has a maximum lift height of 5500 mm and so can easily reach even higher shelves. With a turning radius of only 1507 mm, the truck is also designed to be extremely compact so that safe load handling is possible even in space-critical work areas. The SXW16 also has a lot to offer in terms of handling performance: For example, the lifting and lowering speeds of 0.20 m/s and 0.26 m/s (with and without load) and 0.4 m/s and 0.3 m/s (with and without load) are significantly higher than those of its predecessor.

User-friendly and safe thanks to Clark SpeedControl

The standard Clark SpeedControl (CSC) increases safety during operation. CSC automatically adjusts the driving speed to the position of the tiller. This means that the smaller the distance between the operator and the vehicle, the more the speed of the hand-guided warehouse assistant is reduced. When the driver releases the tiller, the vehicle brakes automatically. With the tiller in the normal driving position, the vehicle reaches the maximum driving speed of 5.5 km/h. All parameters of the CSC can be individually adjusted according to the customer’s wishes. In addition, the proportional hydraulic control, which is also standard, ensures safe and precise storage and retrieval of sensitive loads.

For intuitive and fatigue-free operation of the vehicle, all controls are positioned within easy reach in the ergonomic tiller and can be operated by both right-handed and left-handed operators. Because the tiller is long and low, the operator can operate the vehicle with sufficient safety distance. In addition, he has an optimal view of the forks and can store and retrieve loads quickly and safely even in narrow racking aisles.

Li-Ion power ensures maximum efficiency

The SWX16 is equipped with a maintenance-free, encapsulated 1.6 kW three-phase traction motor. This ensures powerful acceleration and high travel speeds. The powerful 4.5 kW lift motor guarantees maximum efficiency when lifting and lowering loads. The SWX16 is available with a 24 V, 205 Ah lithium-ion battery (Li-Ion). It therefore also proves itself in multi-shift use, because the Li-Ion battery can be recharged at any time and within a very short time – for example during breaks – without damaging the battery or shortening its service life. The battery can be recharged at any 230-volt socket. Clark offers a 24 V, 100 Ah charger for Li-Ion batteries in the scope of delivery. With Li-Ion technology, the vehicle has a high level of availability thanks to the battery’s rapid charging capability, as time-consuming battery replacement is no longer necessary. Moreover, Li-Ion technology not only increases productivity, but also saves costs for maintenance, infrastructure, and replacement batteries. This makes a Li-Ion vehicle worthwhile for anyone who wants to operate a maintenance-free, long-lasting, and fast-charging battery with a high safety standard. For application profiles where a Li-Ion battery is not required, the SWX16 is also available with a lead-acid battery with a battery capacity of 24 V, 225 Ah.

Low operating costs through easy maintenance

The use of proven AC controllers makes the SWX16 high-lift truck an extremely maintenance-friendly warehouse helper. Should a malfunction nevertheless occur, the error code indication in the display provides the service technician with information about the possible cause. Thanks to a one-piece bonnet, the truck offers easy access for service and maintenance work. In addition, the service technician can easily program the travel and lift parameters via the vehicle display.

More in Cold Store with Combi-WR

Posted on 14 February, 202325 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Warehouse space does not come cheap, but for frozen and chilled products companies, the cold store costs per m² are even higher compared to ambient facilities. Maximising capacity should therefore be a priority in the existing footprint as well as in new builds, and this is exactly what Jordan International Transport set out to do with the design of its new purpose built storage facility in Moy, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here the company transports frozen and chilled fish and seafood to all of Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe on a daily basis.

Growth was a major driver for the decision to build the warehouse and switch to a new system, which aimed to maximise space and achieve greater output. In the initial planning stages, Storage and Distribution Manager Barry McIlvanna spoke to materials handling specialist Combilift as well as a racking supplier to identify the most suitable equipment. A combination of automated racking and a Combi-WR pedestrian stacker has enabled substantially more pallets to be stored in a smaller area.

A further consideration was to improve the ratio of stored products and the amount of space needed to access them, as Barry explains: “The freezer system has to work just as hard to cool the relatively unproductive areas set aside for access. With standard racking and conventional forklifts such as the counterbalance and pallet trucks we were previously using, only about half of the space could be used for storage. With the new system, this has risen to 85% so our freezer circuit can operate much more efficiently and therefore more cost effectively.”

In common with all of Combilift’s pedestrian trucks, the Combi-WR features the unique, patented and award winning multi-position tiller arm which enables the operator to remain at the side of the unit rather than the rear. “The operator’s position with this pedestrian version allows a greater level of control over the products when moving them around and as you have full visibility of the loads, the forks and the surroundings it’s safer for operators and other staff nearby, particularly when working in our narrow aisles and tight spaces,” said Barry.

Pedestrian stacker and automated racking maximise space

As well as enabling an almost doubling of pallet density, the performance of the electric powered stacker, even in the demanding cold store environment, has been exemplary according to Barry. “It’s perfect for our set up. Working at -18 degrees over a few hours it never misses a beat. We were initially concerned whether a truck could work equally effectively in such cold temperatures compared to normal conditions, but the team at Combilift had all the right specifications and solutions.”

Barry sums up: “Quick accessibility to products, adhering to deadlines and guaranteeing a high level of service have kept us at the top of our game for over 25 years. We believe being the best means using the best equipment available – and that’s what we have with the Combi-WR. I am sure that any future growth will involve more of Combilift’s products.”

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