Demand for forklift trucks is often cited as a trustworthy barometer of Britain’s business confidence. If you’re looking for reassurance in these trying times, we have plenty of evidence from the suppliers that UK industry is continuing to invest in forklifts.
First, Chiltern Cold Storage Group’s industrial truck fleet handles around 1,200 pallets a day, in extreme temperatures of -22 Celsius and below. UniCarriers recently equipped Chiltern with a 22-strong truck fleet comprising reach trucks, pallet trucks, counterbalance trucks and highlevel order pickers. Chiltern Cold Storage also use UniCarriers’ short term hire service for peak times such as the summer and Christmas.
IAE, a leading UK manufacturer of agriculture, equestrian and fencing equipment, has taken delivery of a brand-new fleet of 19 STILL RX70 diesel machines at their Stoke-on-Trent facility and four EXV high-lift pallet trucks to aid in the handling of products in their production plant. IAE trialled 10 suppliers in total and STILL came top in fuel-saving and efficiency. A further factor in the selection was the RX70 range’s programmable drive characteristics, which achieve maximum efficiency by adjusting speed, acceleration, and braking. Speed control is a major factor for IAE, who use a points-based system to manage their drivers and their operating behaviours.
J D Forktrucks, in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland has completed a deal with Enniskillen-based precast concrete manufacturer Tracey Concrete, for two new Hyundai 7,000 kg diesel counter balance forklifts. Tracey Concrete has an existing fleet of forklifts from 3 tonnes to 5 tonnes but needed bigger machines as the business grew.
With warehouses working ever faster, safety is increasingly important. UniCarriers has added a new safety feature to its U-TERGO reach trucks with Mast Tilt Control (MTC). Standard equipment for all UniCarriers’s high lifting models featuring mast tilt, optionally available for reach trucks with lower lift heights and able to be retrofitted in existing vehicles, MTC means the mast stabilises 80 percent faster, allowing stocking and retrieving at higher speeds when reach trucks are working at great heights.
In another encouraging development, parts supplier TVH is committed to keeping Britain’s forklifts working whatever happens about Brexit. TVH has bought a new 130,000 square feet warehouse in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, to guarantee the level of service customers have come to expect, in the months to come.
Lastly, in one of the high spots of the industry calendar, all eyes are on the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Awards 2019, AKA the IFOYs. Presented in the historic surroundings of the Vienna Hofburg on 26 April, these recognise excellence and innovation in forklift technology. Leading suppliers Clark, Combilift, Hubtex, Jungheinrich, STILL and UniCarriers are among the nominees.
In the Counter Balanced Truck category. Clark’s S25 IC forklift is up against UniCarriers’ TX3 electric three-wheel counterbalance. In the Warehouse Truck category, for trucks with a load capacity of over 8,000 kg, Combilift’s Combi-PPT pedestrian pallet truck rubs shoulders with Hubtex’s MaxX electric sideloader and Jungheinrich’s ETV 216i, the first electric truck with lithium-ion technology as standard. STILL and Jungheinrich are head to head twice, first in the AGV & Intralogistics Robot category, where Jungheinrich’s STC miniload stacker crane vies with STILL’s LiftRunner automated tugger train.
Under Intralogistics Software, Jungheinrich’s zoneCONTROL takes on STILL’s “neXXt fleet” fleet control portal. We wish all the nominees well and will bring you the results in a forthcoming issue.
CHARLES SMITH
Feature Writer
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