What’s new in the world of Forklifts

AWARD WINNING FORKLIFT SERIES FROM HYSTER

Hyster has long had a reputation for building tough and reliable forklifts, capable of operating in challenging environments. With the A Series, built at their site in Craigavon, the global lift truck manufacturer has produced an industry-leading, customisable truck that businesses can tailor to their industry and application needs.

The scalable design philosophy, known as A+ Logic, allows businesses to start with a singular base configuration and add features that best suit the needs of the operation or operator. Customers no longer pay for unnecessary options that increase cost without adding value. The A Series, which recently won the Ergonomics category at the 2022 UKMHA Archies Awards for Excellence, also provides a two-year / 4,000-hour warranty as standard in regulated EMEA markets, giving tough applications peace of mind.

Overview of A Series

The H2.0 – 3.5A internal combustion trucks with lifting capacities from 2.0 to 3.5 tonnes are the first in the series. Not only are they highly adaptable and fully compatible with the Hyster Tracker™ telemetry system, but base models offer excellent fuel economy, unrivalled visibility, simplified servicing and robust components that help prevent downtime. The spacious cabin is specifically engineered to emphasise overhead, forward and rear visibility, and give the operator greater freedom of movement to help reduce strain on the body. This attention to detail makes the truck comfortable and convenient to operate. “The A Series is a game changer because it allows the customer to get the truck they want, the way they want it,” said Briggs Equipment Divisional Director Colin McNeely. “As well as the improved safety features and the range of options available to tailor the truck, Hyster’s telematics system puts more control in the customer’s hands. It’s the ultimate all-rounder. “As the exclusive distributor of Hyster trucks in Ireland and the UK, we are excited about the possibilities and look forward to helping more customers find the solution they need.” Safety features and operator assistance With safety the cornerstone of A Series design, additional optional features include operator assistance systems and a maintenancefree Dynamic Stability System (DSS), which monitors operating conditions and automatically adjusts functionality as necessary. The DSS also reduces truck lean, limits cornering speeds and offers high-lift traction and tilt control. A visual and audible alert informs the truck operator the DSS has been activated. Explaining A+ Logic features that support operator awareness, Robert O’Donoghue, VP Marketing and Solutions EMEA for Hyster, said: “In finished metal goods applications, lift trucks will typically be operating indoors in production areas and warehouses. In this environment, noise and other distractions can often represent a risk, especially if the truck is working in the vicinity of pedestrians.” To assist operators and warn anyone nearby, A Series trucks can be built with a range of features including a rear-facing camera with LCD display, proximity detection sensors, blue and red spotlights, red line awareness lights, visible alarm and/or automatic performance adjustment based on real-time conditions. Hyster’s industry-exclusive Integrated Object Detection System is also available, using infrastructure-free LiDAR technology to alert the operator if an object is detected in the path of travel. When needed, the system automatically adjusts the truck speed. Superb all-round visibility also gives operators greater awareness of their surroundings. The new mast design provides excellent fork tip visibility when handling loads and a fork laser level line can help increase productivity. A Series configurations with a cabin can benefit from a high-strength laminated glass roof for an unobstructed upwards view. The truck can be further fine-tuned with mirror and camera options.

OPERATOR COMFORT

The A Series is also a leap forward in driver comfort, with cabins that can be customised for specific climates, as Robert confirmed: “Businesses can opt for their truck to be built with a suitable cabin option for hot or cold climates. For instance, a full weather-proof cabin may help keep operators comfortable and productive in outdoor areas in colder or wetter climates.” Full cab options include front, top and rear screens (heated if necessary), wipers, steel side doors, heating and air conditioning. Sunshades can also be selected with A+ Logic.

TELEMATICS AND REALTIME MONITORING

Crucially, all A Series trucks are ‘telematics ready’ for use with the Hyster Tracker™ wireless asset management solution. This offers businesses the real-time data needed to monitor and optimise their fleets, control costs, reduce their carbon footprint and streamline maintenance. The Hyster Tracker™ impact camera offers additional peace of mind as everything is recorded upon impact if an accident occurs. Durability Highlighting the importance of A+Logic for durability, Robert added: “For example, in construction materials applications, lift trucks will often be used outside in dirty or dusty environments with poor ground conditions. A+ Logic offers several adjustable features that can help optimise trucks everywhere, from concrete manufacturing operations to those handling bricks and blocks.” Dust can result in wear to parts and components. The A Series features sealed electrical connectors to help manage this, but selecting oil-immersed brakes, tilt cylinder boots and mud guards may provide some applications with additional support. Heavy-duty air intake can also help reduce service intervention requirements. Where debris is an issue, on-demand cooling includes a reversing fan feature to blow fragments out of the engine bay, which helps minimise radiator and engine bay cleaning. Debris on the floor can also be tackled by choosing a belly screen option and string cutter. Environmental impact A Series trucks help deliver reduced emissions, which means lower costs to the owner. Diesel A Series trucks consume up to 13% less diesel than leading competitor models, and LPG trucks use up to 9% less fuel. Get your A Series today The Hyster A Series is available exclusively through Briggs Equipment. For short-term hire, long-term rental or outright sales options, contact their Lisburn office on +44 2890 842 537 or their Dublin office on +353 1 5138 800. You can also email ni@ briggsequipment.co.uk or info@briggsequipment.ie

Rushlift wins massive £45m extension to Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland contract

Materials handling equipment provider Rushlift has secured a major three-year extension to its successful, long-running MHE contract with the UK & Ireland business of international building solutions and materials manufacturer and supplier, Saint-Gobain.

At the end of the three-year arrangement Saint-Gobain (UK&I) has the option to further extend the contract by two more years. The new £45m deal continues an existing 10-year agreement with Rushlift to supply, manage and maintain Saint-Gobain (UK&I)’s materials handling fleet across its sites including distant locations such as the Shetland Islands, Isle of Man and Jersey. In total over two thousand mixed-fleet assets will continue to be managed by Rushlift across some 850+ manufacturing and merchant sites operated by Saint-Gobain (UK&I) brands such as Jewson, JP Corry, British Gypsum, Rencol, and many more. As under the existing contract, Rushlift will supply, maintain and support a wide variety of forklift trucks of different manufacture, along with related industrial equipment –from counter balance trucks, telehandlers, and reach trucks to loading shovels, powered access platforms and floor cleaning equipment. All vehicles will be regularly serviced under a set maintenance regime, with fast breakdown response and support. Ian Berrill, transport & supply chain solutions director for Saint-Gobain (UK&I) says: “Our customer service performance is absolutely vital to the success of our business and, for us, that means having a forklift truck fleet that we know we can depend upon. We need consistently high standards of maintenance and support across every site we run. Over the last ten years, Rushlift has proved to be a reliable partner, maintaining and upgrading our fleet to match our service SLAs and working closely with us to help achieve our environmental targets. With this contract renewal, we have every confidence that Rushlift will continue to deliver the dedicated service and total support that we need to run our business.” Tom Welland, account director at Rushlift, commented: “We are delighted that SaintGobain (UK&I) has again recognised Rushlift as the best-value solution provider for their MHE needs. This is a significant endorsement of our continued commitment to driving service improvements, fleet performance and uptime across Saint-Gobain (UK&I)’s materials handling operations. Securing a major extension to one of the largest MHE contracts in the market makes us extremely proud.” As an experienced supplier of counterbalanced and warehouse forklift trucks, Rushlift is able to source the best-suited industrial equipment for the task by accessing back-toback supply chain agreements procured by Saint-Gobain (UK&I)’s central transport team. Founded in Bishop Auckland in 1978, Rushlift has grown to become a nationwide materials handling service operation with five sites located across the UK – from Cornwall to Aberdeen, and throughout Ireland – employing over 200 people. The business now offers forklift contract hire, short-term rental, new truck sales, and reconditioned equipment, along with full nationwide service engineering, maintenance and parts support. A separate division, Rushlift GSE, provides ground support equipment, financing and servicing for some of the UK’s largest airlines.

Cutting Emissions with Alternative Fuels

Toyota Material Handling UK’s Sales Training and Product Development Manager, Sam Gray, has been speaking about the benefits of using HVO Fuel - a new alternative to fossil diesel that’s said to cut the net CO2 emissions of IC-engine-powered forklifts by as much as 90 per cent.

With the growing drive to tackle the root causes of climate change, companies of all sizes now demand the most sustainable energy solutions for their forklift fleets. HVO - the latest fuel to come on to the market - is said to allow IC engine-powered forklift truck users to cut their net CO2 emissions by as much as 90 per cent, reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx), and cut both particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. Unsurprisingly, many experts consider that HVO has a vital role to play in helping the UK achieve its 2050 net zero target for greenhouse gas emissions. HVO – or, to give it its full name, Hydrotreated vegetable oil - is a low carbon, low emission, fossilfree, environmentally-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional fossil diesel. Part of the paraffinic family of fuels, it is clean and safe and meets all relevant fuel standards and EN 15940:2016 specifications. Endorsed by a wide range of original engine manufacturers, HVO is synthetically produced using a complex refinery process that removes oxygen from vegetable oil and waste animal fat molecules and creates hydrocarbons very similar to regular diesel. But it is important to understand that HVO is not biodiesel: it’s fundamentally different and, as such, doesn’t suffer from any of the negative issues sometimes associated with biodiesel. Impurities are removed from the fuel during the production cycle leaving a consistent, quality product that significantly reduces harmful emissions from diesel engines. To add to HVO’s green credentials, only completely renewable materials are used in the production process and the crops from which the fuel is made are grown and harvested without damaging the environment or the natural ecosystem. Already used to power a wide range of modern vehicles as well as construction machinery and industrial power systems, HVO is considered an eco-upgrade on diesel because it is a fuel that not only reduces emissions and burns more cleanly, but is also safer to handle than mineral diesel. While reduced particulate production during the combustion process reduces the ageing of engine oils and improves local air quality.

No Changes Needed

One of the biggest advantages of HVO is the fact that truck users do not need to modify their dieselpowered forklifts to use it. For example, nearly all Toyota industrial IC engines will run perfectly with HVO fuel and, importantly, no changes are required to the daily running or servicing regimes of Toyota diesel engines if the switch to HVO is made. A further plus-point is the fact that, because HVO is 100 per cent interchangeable with conventional fossil diesel, it can be blended at any ratio. So forklift users can simply ‘top-up and go’ without any need to drain or clean fuel tanks. This ability to be interchanged with an absolute minimum of fuss has been recognised and most major engine manufacturers’ warranties will support an instant switch from diesel to HVO. Possibly the only down-side is that when it comes to price HVO is slightly more expensive than traditional diesel. However, with the high-profile of climate change and environmental concerns always close to the top of the business agenda, many lift truck truck users believe that the relatively modest extra cost is a price worth paying to be seen to be doing the right thing for the planet.