Mitsubishi launches GRENDIA – 1.5 to 5.5 tonne IC engine counterbalance.
Talk to any Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks customer and you will hear the word ‘reliability’ comes up time after time. Generations of forklift users have stayed loyal to Mitsubishi – and each product has built on the reputation for reliability of its predecessors. So the announcement of a new Mitsubishi line-up in the key 1.5 to 5.5 tonne IC engine counterbalance sector is sure to stir a lot of interest.
To highlight the importance of this development, the product’s ‘family’ has been given a new name. GRENDIA.
A name to trust
The name GRENDIA, Mitsubishi explains, means ‘green diamond’. Green – as in the colour of the company’s trucks – is a sign of commitment to environmental protection. Diamonds – as in the Mitsubishi logo – are symbolic of high quality, reliability and sound investments.
Described as a truck you can trust absolutely, GRENDIA has at its heart a choice of rigorously tested diesel and LPG engines that promise non-stop productivity.
Operators will enjoy the fully floating powertrain, with two-speed forward and one-speed reverse transmission, which delivers impressive power and gradeability with minimum noise and vibration.
In fact, the operator’s every need has been considered, in what Mitsubishi calls its ‘ErgoCentric’ approach to forklift truck design. The results include: easy on-off access; a unique, adjustable steering column with position memory; a fully suspended seat with hip restraints and safety belt; user-friendly controls; a practical layout; clear all-round visibility; smooth operation of all hydraulic and travel functions; and a pleasant working area.
High standard spec
Customers can choose from 14 GRENDIA ES models between 1.5 and 3.5 tonnes (replacing the previous FD/FG15-35N or ‘N’ series) and 10 GRENDIA EX models between 4.0 and 5.5 tonnes (replacing and extending the previous FD/FG40-50K series).
As before, many advanced features are specified as standard. For example, the latest Mitsubishi developments in instrumentation, diagnostics, operator identification and electronic failsafe equipment are all within the basic price of the truck.
Mitsubishi has been a pioneer in the field of safety interlock technology. GRENDIA ES features the Integrated Presence System (IPS), which prevents all travel and mast movement if the driver is not seated. It also provides a seat belt warning light and a parking brake alarm. In IPS2, which is standard on GRENDIA EX, the handbrake is automatically activated at the push of a button.
The new instrument panel, with its clear LCD display, gives comprehensive information to the operator and manager on speed, time, engine hours and many other useful parameters. Service intervals and fault warnings are also displayed. Using the truck’s laptop connector, service engineers can carry out complex diagnostic procedures quickly and easily.
These sophisticated electronic systems are all manufactured by Mitsubishi, along with many other components – including masts, carriages and in some cases whole powertrains. Whether produced in-house or supplied by one of its partners, Mitsubishi stresses that every part used in GRENDIA has been carefully selected – in a specification process it calls ‘InTech component matching’ – for perfect compatibility and balance.
Good for your pocket… good for the planet
“When you look at the overall costs, GRENDIA makes great economic sense,” says Mike. “GRENDIA takes reliability and performance to even greater heights: setting standards that other manufacturers can only hope to follow.
“For a start, these trucks are built to last. Everything from the frame, body and mast to the smallest bearing is designed to resist damage. Throughout the truck, Mitsubishi designers have looked for ways to avoid wear and lower the cost of maintaining systems. The use of maintenance-free gears instead of belts in the powertrain is one of many successful developments in that search.”
RapidAccess features throughout the truck speed up daily checks and servicing – again helping to save costs and avoid loss of productivity. And to further minimise operating costs in the short-term and protect against nasty surprises in the long-term, Mitsubishi offers a unique five year warranty covering every major component – eliminating unplanned bills and guaranteeing complete peace of mind.
Mike Jones concludes: “By reducing component replacement, while maximising fuel efficiency and minimising emissions, GRENDIA benefits the planet as well as the operator and the employer. This makes GRENDIA truly a ‘green diamond’.”
For more information on Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks and its range of counterbalance and warehouse equipment, visit www.mitforklift.com.
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