Picking winners in 2012
January 1st 2012 Logistics and warehouse managers face a challenging year,which means managing costs carefully and picking winners.Selecting the correct forklift can help the savvy manager get ahead. We asked suppliers to highlight innovations you should look out for. Here are their insights.
Roger Massey, marketing projects manager, Barloworld Handling “Forklift buyers should look for energy efficiency and technical innovations that help reduce lifetime costs and improve driver productivity. Look out for load sensing hydraulics on the new Hyster Fortens helping deliver up to 20% reduction in fuel consumption. When combined with oil immersed brakes and DuraMatch transmission, lifetime costs are kept low.
“For optimal balance of energy and productivity, an ECO-eLo setting on Hyster diesel and electric trucks provides excellent energy efficiency, and look out for scooter control featured on the low level order pickers and the new tow tractors from Hyster.
“Fuel efficiency is a major benefit on Hyster big trucks with Stage IIIB compliant engines and fuel efficient technology, delivering fuel savings of up to 15% and look out for the tyre saving technology on empty container handlers.
“Intelligent service from Barloworld incorporates new fleet management technology linked to SAP, tracked service vehicles nationwide, and 3D modelling software.
“It is important to remember that, all technological innovations aside, correct specification and local support is what is crucial to ensure the equipment continues to perform well in application.”
Simon Brown,md,Bendi
“Don’t just look to replace like for like. As with your phone renewal, expect your forklift to do more – more benefits for your business, better operating efficiencies etc. “Take ASDA as an example, they wanted to free up store areas that had become restrictive due to the use of rider forklift trucks in narrow aisles.
They asked Bendi to produce a pedestrian operated Bendi to service their 1800mm aisles in the back of store and we set about building the Mini Bendi, which has proved so successful that we are now rolling it out to other retailers and in to printing and manufacturing industry.
“Similarly, B&Q had a problem with occasional timber and board handling which necessitated a specialist 4 way truck dedicated to that occasional job. The Bendi design team saw a way to adapt the Bendi to handle long loads while still being able to revert to a standard Bendi and save the need for the specialist truck.
“This sort of innovation was commonplace here in the UK until manufacturing moved abroad.With it went most of our ability to adapt and change trucks in ways that lend them to do more.”
Martin McVicar, md of Combilift and Aisle-Master
“Customers should be looking at manufacturers who focus on all round product innovation to make sure they are benefiting from the latest technology in the following areas: “Fuel consumption – the lower the better. On battery powered trucks AC technology uses less energy, extending the working time per charge while providing powerful performance. LED working lights fitted to trucks are more energy efficient, therefore greener and are more reliable than standard lights, reducing the risk of having to suspend operations and therefore reduce productivity if bulbs need to be changed.
“Emissions - The UK is heading towards stricter emission requirements and we are already in the position to be able to offer CARB compliant trucks (the most stringent emission regulations worldwide). “Build technology which enables a truck to be multi-functional - Companies which embrace this technology are able to provide customers with multi-tasking machines which bring with them a host of benefits such as: reduced capital investment on different types of trucks; lower maintenance, training and insurance costs.”
David Cooper,md,Cooper Specialised Handling
“When acquiring larger equipment, fuel consumption is even more critical with studies showing that the difference between a heavy-throttle driver and an economic driver (same application and same machine) can be over £100,000 in fuel costs. The ECO Drive system, which is available on all Konecranes equipment supplied by Cooper SH, not only can measure the global fuel consumption of the machine, it can measure each operator’s driving habits, fuel consumption and productivity.
“The operator environment represents the one area out-of-reach of supervisory management, however ECO Drive now provides a picture of precisely how productively and economically the asset is being used.”
John Maguire, sales and marketing director, Flexi Narrow Aisle
“Designers of internal logistics systems are under pressure to make maximum use of all available storage space within the warehouse facility and this is driving innovation. But, while it is essential to keep aisle widths to a minimum, at sites where a high degree of ground level order picking is required, it is important that aisles are wide enough for forklifts and order pickers to be able to work alongside each other not only efficiently but also safely.
“Everyone – particularly first and second tier retailers – wants less inventory in store so the amount of break-bulk and ground level picking of single items within RDCs is growing fast.When the number of SKUs increases the warehouse operator needs more of those valuable ground level picking locations to maintain efficiency and, at the same time, maximise the use of expensive warehouse space.
“Because of its design, the articulated truck is perfectly suited to working in narrower aisles alongside order picking staff without creating the health and safety issues associated with other products.
Furthermore, by using articulated forklifts, warehouse operators obtain more ground level picking locations and increase their overall warehouse capacity by up to 30 per cent.”
Steve Richmond, general manager of Jungheinrich UK’s Systems & Projects Division
“Any technology that removes some of the pressure on the forklift operator by making his or her dayto- day operational procedures more straightforward can only bring efficiency, productivity and safety benefits.
“Warehouse management systems, on-truck data capture systems, RFIDbased warehouse navigation systems and forklift truck personnel protection systems are just some of the technologies that are being used to deliver lift truck operational efficiencies, but it is essential that the integration of the technology is carefully carried out and is a robust solution delivered by the actual truck manufacturer. Simply ‘bolting’ on lots of additional equipment will not guarantee the overall benefits and improved efficiencies that the technology can bring.
“It is also important to identify a clear chain of responsibility for the after sales support and maintenance of both the truck and any sub-systems that are part of it.Where a number of suppliers simply bolt sub-systems on to a forklift truck disputes can arise over the responsibility for the ongoing management of the critical interfaces. That’s why it is important that users choose a truck manufacturer that can provide the trucks and the subsystems – be it RDTs, scanners or warehouse management systems.”
Andrew Daly,UK sales & marketing director at Linde Material Handling
“Recent industry innovations have centred around truck electronics with three key areas of focus: monitoring devices that log both data and operator activity as well as truck impact sensors to detect collisions or truck damage; improved safety systems such as reverse parking warnings and bleepers and enhanced truck operator aids such as CCTV, height indicators and weighing devices.
“While technological innovations such as this are great for the customer, it is vital to consider the following fundamentals when purchasing forklifts. Operator comfort is a key consideration, especially given that a truck’s operator represents 80% of the total running costs. Truck performance and productivity alongside robustness, durability and service must also be considered.
Opting for the cheapest fleet option is not necessarily the most cost efficient in terms of truck performance over time. Finally, fuel consumption and sustainable carbon emission reduction, especially for LPG and diesel trucks, must also be factored in if operating costs and environmental obligations are to be addressed.”
Mike Jones, general manager,Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks UK
“Hybrid forklift trucks and lithium Ion power offer exciting possibilities, but cost efficiency matters most right now. Reliability will be more important that ever in 2012. The pressure is on manufacturers because customers have slimmed down their fleets and many are running trucks for longer, so trucks need a combination of smart design, world-class manufacturing and robust quality control.Mitsubishi now offers a manufacturer’s 5 year warranty.
The operator is also key. That's why we pioneered technologies making it easy to match a truck's performance to the precise needs of the driver, the location and the job at hand. For example, where loads of glassware are being shifted over a reasonable distance, it could mean setting up the truck with low acceleration but a relatively high top speed.
2012 will see truck users getting back to basics, cutting through the hype to see which technologies will deliver better safety, efficiency, and productivity.”
Jason Reynolds,UK sales director,Rushlift
“Technology and innovation has mainly been focused on safety and ergonomics in the past decade or so, however more innovations focused on cost reductions have become prevalent in the current economic climate.
Developments like lithium-ion batteries and hybrid technologies, although existing for a number of years, are only now becoming a practical reality.
“The rocketing cost of fuel impacts on any business and the dramatic cost saving the Still RX70 range, for example, offers over its competitors can no longer be ignored. The reduced carbon footprint associated with lower fuel usage means customers, as well as other manufacturers, are now seriously looking at this technology.
We supply a wide variety of equipment, and we know the equipment alone is never the answer, after all new technology can, and does, go wrong. We see improvements in the way fleets are run and managed as truly offering the best way to save costs long term.”
Tony Wallis,operations director,Toyota Material Handling UK
“When customers are looking to purchase materials handling equipment it is critical that they look for products that have superior safety features and innovations that are part of the design.
“At Toyota, our experience shows that the highest operational costs relating to material handling equipment is operators, damage and accidents. These can impact on costs relating to trucks, stock, infrastructure and people. By choosing products that have inbuilt safety features, combined with excellent operator training and an ability to monitor costs, customers can increase productivity, reduce lifetime costs and kept their teams safe.
“At Toyota Material Handling, all our products are designed to provide the highest levels of safety; these include counterbalance forklifts fitted with Toyota System of Active Stability (SAS), BT Reflex reach trucks with shock sensors, tilting cab and smooth transitional mast lift and our award winning BT Pro Lifter hand pallet truck that reduces manual handling by up to 67%.”
Stephen Burton,md,Windor Materials Handling
“Advances in the performance and reliability of electric counterbalance forktrucks are making them a more viable alternative to IC engine trucks than ever before. Of course fuel costs are a big driving factor, however the responsiveness of equipment is important. The Komatsu AE/AM range gives the performance of an engine powered truck with fast acceleration, fast travel speeds and is also suitable for outdoor use. It also has the added benefit of the Px4 rating giving protection against splashed water from any direction. Lower total operating costs are also available, including considerably lower servicing costs as there's no need for engine related oils and filters etc. Elsewhere, we see the application of innovations such as the standard fitting of digital load checkers, improvements in battery charge technology and regenerative braking that all help to make electric the growth market of the future.”
Daniel Heap,senior product strategy manager,Yale
“During tough economic times, goods will need to flow with increasing efficiency as the focus on cost becomes sharper. Increased productivity and lowering the cost of operation will be on the minds of finance, logistics and warehouse managers across the world.
Yale recognised this during the development programme of its recently introduced electric counterbalance range and was determined to offer customers the lowest possible operating costs.
“For example, the new 2.2-3.5 ton Yale VL-Productivity truck is an energy efficient electric counterbalance forklift with enhanced performance to compete in applications that have traditionally been the province of diesel or LPG trucks. Transitioning from diesel or LPG to the Yale VL Productivity truck will provide customers with reduced emissions, reduced noise, and reduced operating costs, while also maintaining high levels of productivity.” More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
