The Flexi AC range of articulated fork lift trucks from Narrow Aisle has been developed specifically to improve storage, handling and customer order assembly efficiency in manufacturing and logistics.
The flagship in the range, the Flexi G4 electric powered articulated forklift truck has become the most popular articulated forklift truck in Europe. The important registered design elements, together with the numerous advanced operational and safety features, increase the Flexi G4’s appeal even further for operators.
At the heart of the Flexi G4 concept is a commitment to operator safety and handling efficiency that combine to make Flexi G4 the most complete and compelling articulated forklift truck currently available.
John Maguire, Sales & Marketing Director, Flexi Narrow Aisle, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Warehouse & Logistics News – First of all, John, can you run through the different products and services that Narrow Aisle provides?
Narrow Aisle designs, manufactures and supplies the full range of Flexi Articulated Trucks from 1.3 tonnes capacity to 2.5 tonnes capacity, with lift heights from 3 metres to 15 metres, and stacking aisle performance from as little as 1.6 metres between pallets, all available in new, eco rebuild, refurbished and cold store options. The Flexi AC range is the “narrowest” on the market for maximum aisle clearance and travel speed, and turns quickest with an outstanding 220° of true articulation. Narrow Aisle has a global parts central store at Tipton, West Midlands, comprehensive product and parts distribution and aftersales support in over 50 countries around the world. Flexi Training Co. provides operator training service across the whole of the UK and Western Europe.
WLN – As Sales & Marketing Director at Narrow Aisle, what is your role in the company day to day? Are you directly involved in developing solutions for customers?
My role is to lead the company’s marketing and sales strategy including all aspects of UK and global development of products, distribution, marketing and sales, customer service and parts support through our comprehensive network of distributors in the UK and now in nearly 50 countries. We provide warehouse intra-logistic development training and solutions to both our distributors and on behalf of their customers. We offer support in many ways including CAD, warehouse and storage layouts, dynamic simulation and physical testing to establish the most cost effective solutions for our customers.
WLN – When was Narrow Aisle founded? Who owns it now?
Peter Wooldridge, the current owner, founded the company in 1976. He had been designing Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) trucks in his previous role but could at that time see that much like in today’s difficult economic climate, there was a need for a cost effective space saving truck-based solutions in the market. He designed and patented his first “VNA” truck – the compact guided “Turret” truck called the “Rotareach” – in 1976. The prototype of this truck reached celebrity status at the time by appearing on the then famous “Tomorrow’s World” programme. The rest, as they say, is history.
WLN – How do you sum up the Narrow Aisle proposition?
Our company has always specialised in providing efficient, space-saving truck based solutions to the warehousing, logistics and manufacturing sectors. The development of the Flexi Articulated truck concept in the early 1990’s provided a step change in that it allows our customers to reduce stacking aisles and maximise storage capacity without rails or wire guidance. Yet operators can safely carry out customers’ order assembly at the key ground level locations, allowing the warehouse to bulk store replenishment pallets above the ground level pick face and therefore provide a real distribution centre solution at very low capital cost. The growth of the company has accelerated further recently, as these safe customer order-picking attributes are the ones most valued by the e-fulfilment and third party logistics industry.
WLN – Which parts of your business are generating this growth?
We see the growth in all markets coming from the fact that the new generation Flexi AC technology trucks are faster, narrower with more clearance, easier and safer to turn in a warehouse aisle. Many of the leading UK and European logistics companies are finding they can move many more “tonnes per hour” with Flexi truck storage systems than traditional moving mast reach trucks or wire guided man up lateral stackers, and lower capital cost and less downtime for repairs or damage due to reach legs hitting racks and pallets or wire guidance systems failures.
WLN – You mentioned Flexi Training Co. earlier. Which industry sectors does it serve?
Our Flexi Training business is primarily responsible for providing professional Articulated Truck Operator Training for all grades of employee, from novice drivers who also need basic forklift tuition to start, to short one day conversion courses for experienced warehouse truck drivers. Our customers can be sure that the training provided is absolutely first class and exceeds their expectations.
WLN – What sets Narrow Aisle apart? Why buy a VNA truck from you?
Our company provides the largest range of true articulated trucks; we design and make all the Flexi range and supply one consistent Flexi product, with all the same features and high quality components. If a customer buys a Flexi he can be sure that it has the same DNA as every other Flexi. Others may license out their designs to enter new markets, but as a result each new truck type can have completely different component parts depending on where it is designed and made. We have resisted the temptation to grow in this way, sticking to one Flexi model range in all global markets.
WLN – Do you supply any other products?
We are completely dedicated to making and supplying Flexi articulated trucks, and do not make or sell any other products. Other manufacturers have a foot in different camps, making for example large engine power forklift trucks or dock container handling equipment, which have no synergy with warehousing intra-logistics. A completely different approach is required to provide these complex solutions; it’s not just about “engineering trucks,” it’s about understanding the customers’ real needs and we have over 30 years’ experience in this area.
WLN – What new products and developments will you be showing at IMHX?
We will be demonstrating the new Flexi HiLOAD AC 2.5 tonnes. This has laser programmable height selectors and an operator vision system – CCTV/LCD/HiDef – for carrying out heavy high lifts safely and accurately. Other major introductions include Flexi VNA with 230° articulation, which won an award for Material Handling Innovation at Paris Manutention in November 2012. The Flexi VNA is unique in working in a 1.6 metre aisle with faster four-wheel articulation steering and single point turning – not a 5 point “pivot steer”! The HiLOAD AC 2.5 tonnes runs on AC power and delivers real inside to outside performance on treaded rubber tyres.
WLN – Will you be showing any specific developments from the core range?
In terms of core range development, the latest Flexi range of products has been upgraded with new features to increase both operator comfort and safety. These features include:
– Revised fully adjustable anti vibration operator seat
– Additional horn button operated by the left foot to allow safer driving as hands can stay on steering wheel and controls
– LED reversing lamps, giving more light, less power consumed, safer operation, longer battery life
– Heavy duty German cold rolled lift mast sections for reduced deflection at maximum lift, faster work cycles
– Programmable laser height selector reduces fatigue and increases efficiency
– Hydraulic telescopic forks for maximum density double deep pallet storage and single sided vehicle unloading.
WLN – What else is new from Narrow Aisle at IMHX?
We are launching our Flexi Warehouse Systems Service at the show. This uses our 30 years of experience to help the development of customers’ projects looking at all the elements that influence the efficiency of their operation, especially the concept of compressing the project timeframe to accelerate implementation and therefore payback starts earlier. This attribute is very important in the e-fulfillment and third party logistics sector, where fixed contract terms and customers needing early fulfillment start dates is critical. We have an expert team with the skills and experience of successfully supplying intra-logistics solutions to the warehousing industry over many years. Using CAD, modeling and other partners in WMS, storage systems and materials handling equipment, we are able to optimise the efficiency of any given warehouse space to provide the most cost effective solution in a much faster timeframe, and at lower cost, than has previously been possible.
WLN – How important is IMHX to your strategy?
As a provider of new innovative material handling solutions, we are absolutely convinced that major international shows like IMHX are key to us being able to showcase our new technology to new customers and into new markets. You must meet with people to develop this business network.
WLN -The big question: why should a busy professional from the logistics industry take a day out of the office to visit your stand?
Quite simply, they need to catch up with what we have to offer in 2013! On top of that, we would say that spending one day at the show is really not enough to maximise your appreciation of the benefits available!
IMHX has developed into one of the leading international global intra-logistics events. Building on the show’s success over the last 10 years, every event has attracted more exhibitors each time, with more technology and solutions from across the globe. This, combined with the detailed seminars and conference tracks available, has resulted in a real opportunity for professionals in the logistics industry to really catch up with the latest developments and meet other professionals within the industry.
WLN – What do you see as the biggest pressures facing warehouse operators today?
The biggest pressures in the industry today are:
– Reducing real operational costs with minimum capital expenditure, and achieving more “bang for the buck”
– Increasing throughput without affecting safety and providing a robust reliable operation to meet with customer demands.
– Managing energy usage to achieve incremental reductions to offset current cost increases and future upward price pressure on energy cost.
For us as a fork truck solutions supplier, this translates into a need to help customers achieve real savings, not offer them gimmicks.
WLN – What particular sector specific features do your systems have, to address these pressures?
Our Flexi systems appeal to a broad range of sectors, as I have hopefully made clear in this interview. However, the development of our new 2.5 tonne version was not to aim specifically at loads of 2.5 tonnes, as there are relatively few of these in day to day warehouse operations. It was carried out specifically in response to the need to handle two 1 tonne pallets when unloading vehicles in, say, the automotive industry. This Flexi 2.5 tonne truck unit, when fitted with hydraulic telescopic forks, can also unload from one side of a curtain sided vehicle, reducing turn around times significantly.
WLN – What are your predictions for the UK market place?
The short to medium outlook in the UK is perhaps better than Europe. If British industry, including our company, can develop new markets for products in the real growth economies outside Europe, then we will see an increasingly good business development here in the UK.
WLN – Finally, where do you see Narrow Aisle going from here?
Our Flexi product has huge growth potential both in the UK and Europe, and increasingly in the expanding growth markets around the world. Our Flexi technology has, to date, only been adopted by a small percentage of the customers who could really benefit from the cost saving available when applying our technology in all the applications where it has a real cost benefit.
Tel: 0121 557 6242
email: info@flexi.co.uk
Comments are closed.