Where logistics operations have been closed due to the recent lockdown, there is a risk when restarting normal work. When forklifts are used again after a time of being idle, there is a danger of fire, explosion or machinery breakdown. To reduce the risk of fire and explosion, thorough pre-start up plans and checks are required.
This article was first published in the December 15th 2020 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
When planning a new warehouse, figures like the trucks’ speed, the rack heights in the warehouse and rough travel distances can give you an estimation of how the operation will look. However, this result will only ever be a fairly approximate estimation – and there’s a good chance it could be missing crucial details that lead you to the wrong conclusions. For example, if you wanted to find out the time needed for a truck to drive to a rack, retrieve a pallet, and take it to the dispatch area, your calculation may involve the truck’s average driving speed, lift speed, and distance to the pallet location. A simulation, like those offered by UniCarriers, gives a more realistic picture, as it takes into account other vital details by simulating the actual route — details such as truck and pedestrian traffic, the acceleration parameters of the specific truck and manoeuvring needed along the route, and even the time taken for the driver to get on and off the truck, if it’s relevant.
Whilst at present the needs of most forklifts are met by lead-acid batteries, in times of high demand where more fleets are required, lithium-ion offers a more efficient alternative. High energy density coupled with quick recharge time mean that lithium-ion batteries can accommodate multiple shifts whilst also reducing idle time. Sunlight’s Li.ON force lithium-ion batteries reach full charge in under 90 minutes, allowing for three shift operations without the need for battery change in the middle of the working day. Unlike other forms of batteries, the performance of forklifts will not start to deteriorate as the lithium batteries run out of power. Sunlight’s Li.ON force range incorporates a state of charge display which provides low battery warning signals to prevent forklifts running out of charge in the middle of a busy warehouse floor.
Hyundai Material Handling has kicked off the introduction of its new Stage V series with a full range of 9V models. The new portfolio represents a smart generation of diesel forklifts from 2.5 to 5 ton lifting capacity, and is combining a robust and slick exterior design, together with performance enhancing features. In addition, a heavy line range of diesel machines will be launched in the second half of 2021.
And finally, a new children’s book has been launched just in time for Christmas. Collaboration between forklift manufacturer Combilift and award-winning Irish author Emer Conlon has resulted in “The Forklifts and their Secret Superpowers”, which depicts the main Combilift products as cartoon characters. Innovation has been a hallmark of Combilift and this has now been extended to capture children’s imaginations.
It is refreshing to report this heartwarming news during these sobering times.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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