Custom-designed products often provide an elevated experience that, in some cases, can be more of a novelty than a targeted function. More than just a novelty, lift truck customisation can fulfil a cost-management function to help adhere to the tight budgets typical of warehouses, distribution centres and logistics facilities, helping put logistics operations in control.
One-size-fits-all material handling solutions can lead operations to waste money by purchasing excess features or sacrificing productivity with a solution not optimised for the task at hand.
“No two businesses are the same, and neither are their forklift requirements.” Robert O’Donoghue, Vice President Marketing and Solutions EMEA, from Yale Lift Truck Technologies explains. “Many different factors can indicate a need for lift truck customisation. For example, is the work environment indoor, outdoor, or a mix of both? Are there tight spaces, or hot and cold temperatures? What about utility grid capacity and fuel availability?”
These factors, and more, must be considered when designing the most effective and efficient lift truck fleet. Load type is also a determining factor. Unique or non-palletised loads common in certain industries can require specific attachments or features like raised cabins.
Customisation can generate both upfront and long-term savings. “At a basic level, customisation provides a hyper-specific tool, purpose built for a certain task, as illustrated by a standard wrench compared to a torque wrench meant to excel at a specific function,” Robert explains.
“In logistics, customisation choices are driven by carefully studying workflows and selecting the best tools to support overall effectiveness and efficiency. Choosing only the standard options could do more harm than good if equipment is not properly equipped for the task at hand – risking premature wear, greater expense, or limited productivity.”
Individual lift trucks can offer extensive customisation options beyond simply being equipped with a certain type of power source or attachment. The options can improve operator performance and comfort, increase productivity and efficiency, and optimise operational and situational awareness.
Enhancing the operator experience starts with visibility. This can be as simple as improving exhaust routing to avoid obstructing the operator’s view and include clear view guards for improved upward visibility in indoor applications.
Inside the cabin, instruments can keep operators informed about travel speed and other information regarding truck status, and a fork-mounted laser for sighting loads at height can also keep operators informed.
Comfort within the cabin can be improved with an operator fan, heating, air conditioning and USB ports to support technology-driven workplace demands, while air ride suspension and full suspension seats can help stave off fatigue from shock and vibration.
Options can also support greater productivity and efficiency. For example, load backrest extensions increase stability for oversized loads and the addition of a hydraulic accumulator reduces shock and vibration for the load operator. This helps prevent productivity-halting issues with load integrity, while helping operators stave off fatigue. Hydraulic control options are also available from the factory, ready for specialised applications that use clamping attachments, attachment extension tubes and other specialised tools. Transmission options can support maximum operator control, for precise power delivery to smoothly transport loads and manoeuvre through busy logistics environments.
“Control is at the heart of customisation, and businesses want to be sure they can configure systems and equipment on their terms.” Robert adds. “More specifically, they want the features they need without being required to pay for unnecessary enhancements along with them.”
As the pace of change keeps accelerating, businesses cannot afford to be stuck in a rigid, inflexible model. Smart design and flexible sourcing get the latest technologies to market more quickly, ready to deploy on a versatile platform as part of a customised solution. This is the Yale approach.
For the customer, this enables manufacturers to offer greater configurability from the beginning. In practice, this can mean the ability to pick and choose a custom configuration from an extensive options list, picking only what your business needs.
As equipment becomes more technology-driven, this approach is well-suited to adapt quickly and equip logistics operations with the latest innovations.
“As intralogistics operations face inflationary pressures and other threats that escalate costs, while keeping up with a fast-evolving supply chain, they must be more efficient than ever.” Robert says. “This is a balancing act – requiring businesses to put technology to work for greater performance, but also do so without incurring unnecessary expenses. In that paradigm, customisation that puts intralogistics operations in control is critical to success.”
The Yale® Series N lift truck can be configured to suit customers’ needs, even in extreme applications, all while offering operator comfort to promote high levels of productivity. The Series N challenges customers to reject the status quo, and set their own standard.
Yale and its network of Dealer Partners are focused on customer success and supporting productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in the fast-changing intralogistics market. Visit www.yale.com/en-gb/europe.
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