Reach trucks that are better by design…

In any reach truck, the element with the biggest impact on safety and performance is the operator. Here, Stewart Gosling of RDD, UK importers for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, spells out how this was a strong influence in the development of SENSiA, Mitsubishi’s newest reach truck design.

A unique feature, that is universal to all warehouses, is the level of confinement which forces skilled operators to work within fine tolerances – exerting a singular pressure on safety.

So is it not surprising that in 80% of truck accidents visibility is a significant factor. Reach trucks by their very nature are fraught with visibility issues, particularly when travelling forward when hydraulic cylinders obstruct vision.

Looking for a way to maximise visibility, the designers of SENSiA looked closely at the mast structure. By enclosing the hydraulic cylinders within the mast itself, they successfully reduced the clutter, ensuring good all-round vision.

In addition, designers have looked for ways to encourage harmonious working between operator and machine. The result? The Sensitive Drive System. Intuitive by design, it automatically senses how an operator wishes to operate and adjusts the machine’s reactions for smooth, controlled, precise performance.

If that wasn’t reason enough to make the switch to SENSiA, then the focus on creating a cab that is a complete “safety cell” should convince you…

Working in confined spaces, a cab that is too small could result in a shoulder, arm or leg protruding, creating the very real danger of trapping or scraping a limb against racking walls.

That’s why SENSiA’s industry-leading compartment is big enough to accommodate the whole body of the operator comfortably, ensuring that limbs stay protected inside the cab, even during narrow aisle operations.

Operators of reach trucks are particularly susceptible to strain, mounting and dismounting the truck over 100 times in a single shift. The average UK man weighs 83.6kg, which means that operator’s joints and muscles undergo the strain of hauling a staggering 8,360kg in and out of the cab every shift.

Simple touches like very low and wide, non-slip steps, good grab handles and a lower seat position in the SENSiA reduce this strain enormously. But remember, reducing injury and accident risk doesn’t just protect your workforce.

Damage to trucks, racking and stock quickly adds up to enormous – and largely uninsured – expense.

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