FORKLIFT TRUCKS
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DIESEL STILL RULES, BUT FORKLIFT TRUCKS MARKET MOVING TOWARDS ELECTRIC POWERED MACHINES The forklift truck market is undoubtedly rapidly changing, with electric powered machines set to overtake diesel and LPG power in the coming years, not least because of environmental issues and rising fuel prices. Historically, the forklift market has been split roughly 60-40 between LPG or dieselpowered and battery-powered electric models, but there’s a definite move towards electric. Toyota Material Handling, for example, expects the UK market for electric counterbalanced forklift trucks to grow by as
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much as 10 per cent in the next five years. All the big manufacturers and suppliers are introducing their own electric models into a marketplace that is both busy and diverse, with applications ranging from transport, cold stores and warehousing to manufacturing, retail and supermarkets.
The range of available trucks is rapidly growing, too – from hand pallet trucks, reach trucks and order pickers to narrow aisle machines and stackers. It can be a minefield when choosing which represents the best material handling solution for your needs. Over the next few pages, Export & Freight brings you some of the latest technological developments and new product launches from this ever expanding sector…
