Colour codes have been around for a long time and the one I like the most is the one that tells me which lead goes in which socket in the back of my computer. So simple, so easy, just the way consumers like it. However there is one use of colour that can be not only very misleading, it actually distracts consumers from making the best choice, and more importantly can be down right dangerous. I am talking about the use of dyes that may- or may not- identify the characteristics of polyurethane treaded wheels offered to users of electric warehouse trucks, depending on who supplied it.
With few exceptions, the material handling industry for a long time applied the one size fits all approach to the wheels put on your truck -so often referred to as standard, and yes it was-and still is- suitable for standard applications. For example, if your warehouse has smooth floors that are kept clean and dry, and your trucks lift average loads while operating average numbers of hours a week then standard will do just fine.
But there are two problems with this. Firstly, not everyone has a warehouse that is anything like standard. You could be operating a cold store where the floors are wet and slippery and the trucks are left overnight in temperatures as low as -40°C. Then you have the ramps in the loading bay that have similar problems, especially when it’s raining outside. For many, the floor may be covered in food products, oils, solvents, lubricants, small metal pieces, and in some environments there is even a high risk of explosion.
Secondly, your modern forklifts are designed to accelerate quickly, travel longer distances under heavy load and are capable of ever higher top speeds, not to mention their ability to turn on a sixpence. Ok, so how important is it to get the right wheels? Well, according to the HSE there were over 2000 reported accidents involving forklift trucks last year.
Of these nearly 30% resulted in major injuries including amputations and broken bones. Ouch. So the major manufacturers went away and spent years investing large amounts of time and money to come up with advanced compounds that offered a safer and higher performance than standard for non-standard applications. While they were busy doing this, some companies were busy adding dyes to their tread materials for all sorts of reasons, including the cosmetic effect. So for a long time we have had blue polyurethane wheels that may, or may not, work best in cold store applications, black wheels that may, or may not, offer the same characteristics as rubber – or are they electrically conducting?( don’t get this one wrong whatever else you do!) Red, purple and orange wheels have better, or worse, grip on slippery surfaces and even green wheels which you guessed it, are, or are not, “environmentally friendly”.
Over time the products may have improved and indeed the colour may be significant – but take my advice and don’t risk it… because while all this has gone on the major wheel producers have been collaborating with the raw material suppliers and truck producers to develop, test and ultimately launch several excellent compounds, each tailored to suit specific application issues. Unfortunately someone forgot to colour code them. So now consumers are bewildered by the variety of different products available, often resulting in them choosing the least best fit to their trucks.
The answer is simple- ask the experts. Ask the manufacturer of your forklift what they would recommend for your application and then find a reputable supplier of that product who is offering it at a competitive price. Don’t be afraid to shop around to get the best price and don’t be perturbed if the colour of the wheel tells you nothing about its intended purpose. Colour blindness may not be such a bad thing after all- unless, that is, you just took all the leads out of the back of your computer.
TEP Technica Ltd
Simon Downs
01256 880119
Comments are closed.