Sumo Glove, the revolutionary fork tip impact reduction system, is flying high after being specified by a major British airline for the new forklifts in one of its distribution centres, and has agreements in place with Barloworld and Linde Sterling to supply and fit Sumo Glove to their trucks for the benefit of their customers.
The unnamed airline’s invitation to forklift suppliers to tender for the new fleet specified all quotes to be for trucks delivered fitted with Sumo Glove systems. As a result, Sumo Managing Director Simon Ross has received enquiries about entering into wider partnerships from a number of other leading truck suppliers.
Barloworld Handling, the UK’s exclusive Hyster dealer, is now featuring Sumo Glove on its new online store at www.barloworldstore.co.uk, which went live on 1st July. In addition Barloworld has recently launched the new ‘JXN’ electric counterbalance range from Hyster, and all its demonstration trucks will be fitted with the Sumo Glove. Roger Massey, Marketing Projects Manager for Barloworld, says: “We are always looking for innovative new solutions that can help reduce costs for our customers. The Sumo Glove helps to reduce damage to pallets and goods associated with fork impact. It can also help promote responsible driving to prevent the cause of accidents. We see it as a solution that could provide a good return for a number of businesses.”
Sumo Glove has also entered a partnership with Linde Sterling, Linde’s distributors in North Wales and the North West, with locations in Warrington, Bolton, Buckley and Liverpool.
Linde Sterling becomes an official supplier of Sumo Glove from this month, and will feature the Sumo system as one of the products in their on-line brochure. A recent day’s filming at Linde Sterling’s Bolton training centre will ensure Linde Sterling’s customers and potential customers can see Sumo Glove in action on-line.
We’re very excited to be working with these companies, who will now be able both to supply and fit Sumo Glove to their customers’ trucks,” says Simon Ross, Managing Director of Sumo Glove. ”Together we will make a major contribution to reducing the damage to property and the human suffering that result from accidents involving forklifts.
But we don’t want to stop there. We’re keen to develop relationships with every one of the UK’s major truck companies, and also with the specialists and the regional suppliers. Sumo Glove offers fork truck manufacturers and distributors of all kinds a chance to make their trucks safer, instantly, as part of the industry’s commitment to the crucial task of raising workplace safety standards.”
RTITB and SUMO Glove recently collaborated to present the 1st National RTITB, SUMO Glove operator of the year competition. The first competition of its type which was a huge success, roundly applauded for raising the profile of the industry.
Alex Nelson, MD RTITB, says: “The relationship between RTITB and SUMO stems from the synergies in the products and services we provide. Training and the SUMO Glove impact reduction system are both designed to reduce damage, increase efficiency and to keep people safe”.
Tests on the Glove conducted by RTITB clearly demonstrated the many benefits they provide in Lift truck operations, with little impact on the time taken by properly trained operators to complete product movements.
Alex Nelson adds: “RTITB and SUMO will continue to promote safety and training and we are currently planning the 2010 operator of the year competition. Plans are also well underway to engage with the 457 organisations accredited by RTITB to enable them to provide the SUMO Glove to their customers, which will allow many more employers to access the benefits of the glove as well as quality assured operator training.”
Health & Safety Executive workplace transport figures show UK accidents last year involving forklift trucks resulted in 6 deaths, 7 amputations and 7,132 injuries causing over 7 days’ absence from work. Only 47% of accidents at work get reported, but of those that reported last year, 32% involved forklifts. This unacceptably high level of incidents ensures forklift safety is high on the UK government’s agenda, and Sumo Glove will shortly take part in Britain’s biggest ever forklift accident research programme, to be held at the Health & Safety Laboratory in Buxton, Derbyshire.
“The HSL study will evaluate the damage done in such events and the contribution that Sumo Glove can make to minimise it, which is a major step for us,” says Simon Ross. “But not only that, it will open the door for us to have conversations with the insurance companies regarding the consequences for liability for businesses using forklifts, which will add to the already compelling case for fitting Sumo Glove to Britain’s forklifts.”
For more information about Sumo Glove, go to www.sumoglove.com or call Sales on 01482 654466
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