Playing it straight
May 1st 2006

Safety and productivity are at the forefront of a new series of electric lift trucks from Nissan, spearheaded by its Syncro feature to provide 'instant' straight-line travel. The Syncro feature automatically returns the truck's steering wheel spinner knob to the ideal driving position for forward and reversing operations

With three-wheel design for best warehouse manoeuvrability, all models in the new TX Syncro range also feature a double rear wheel as standard for additional stability - especially important for smaller trucks when travelling unladen.

The AC-powered model is the first allnew electric lift truck from Nissan since the launch of its range of warehouse products in 2005 - a 30-strong series of reach trucks, pallet transporters, stackers and order pickers.

The TX Syncro is designed to bridge the gap between Nissan's warehouse equipment and its standard fourwheel counterbalanced trucks, with a range extending to five versions and in six capacities from 1.25 to 2.0 tonnes.

Compact, Standard and High Performance options add to the handling versatility of the new series.

Syncro technology

Syncro technology - applied as standard to all models in the TX Series - improves straight-line operability. Having driven into a stack or racking at an angle, a continual problem for lift truck operators is to ensure that the drive wheels are in the correct position for immediate straight line travel before reversing out. Forward and reverse travel to straighten the steer wheels is time consuming, with the risk of de-stabilising the load or damaging stored products.

With angle sensors and powered steering, the Nissan Syncro system always returns the steering knob to the same preselected position for straight line travel, forward or reverse, giving safer and more productive operation. At slow speeds, the operator can also see the angle of the rear steer wheels at a glance through a display on the truck's instrument panel.

Risk reduction system

Nissan's Risk Reduction System is designed to create a cabin space that provides the best all-round visibility and which incorporates dedicated controls to ensure optimum secure operation. These include a mast lock system which prevents the forks from being lowered or the mast from being tilted when the operator has left the seat. The system also automatically restricts travel speeds and acceleration when the truck is turning, and reduces lift speeds at high rates of truck travel.

If the accelerator is released when the truck is on a gradient, an anti roll-back device ensures that the truck can reverse only slowly, while a new style of parking brake features a lock to prevent its accidental release.

Optimum manoeuvrability

The wedge-shaped design of the new Nissan TX Syncro's chassis ensures optimum manoeuvrability for the truck, an especially important feature for electric warehouse models which are often called to operate in confined areas. Overall width is from just 1070mm. Coupled to the standard double rear wheel, it offers high levels of stability and load capacity, especially at high lift heights.

Nissan has also introduced an AC TECH controller with the TX Syncro to maximise both performance and economy. The controller continuously monitors and communicates the forklift's status such as travel speed and steering wheel angle to the operator through the instrument panel.

Five function keys can also be used to adjust the truck's performance to ensure the safest operating parameters according to the operator's experience, the requirements of the load or the handling conditions.

Operator comfort

Obtaining optimum productivity from a lift truck, say Nissan, is a question of good design to provide the greatest operator comfort and least fatigue, and the latest technology for low energy consumption.

The TX Syncro has been designed to provide a wide step with ample legroom for easy access to a spacious cabin, while the multi-adjustable suspension seat and the adjustable steering wheel allow operators to select their ideal driving position.

In keeping with Nissan's automotive style of operator control, standard hydraulic levers are located immediately next to the seat and the pedal lay out is a familiar 'passenger car type' to avoid confusion.

Fuzzy Logic Control aids smooth acceleration and enables the operator to focus on the job in hand, while truck deceleration takes place automatically when the opposite travel direction is engaged or when the foot is lifted from the accelerator pedal. Fingertip controls mounted on the seat armrest are an option to improve natural operation and productivity even further.

Increased uptime

For increased uptime, three regenerative braking systems put power back into the battery during operation, a load sensing steering system uses only the minimum power required for the operation, and Auto Power Off shuts the truck down when left on stand-by. All work through the Nissan AC TECH controller to increase the available working hours from each battery charge.

Even more uptime is gained through maintenance intervals which have been extended to 1200 hours, and with reduced service due to the six-disk sealed wet-type brakes and AC-TECH controller.

A further function of the AC-TECH controller contributing to truck uptime is its Built In Test Equipment (BITE) module.

Diagnostics and troubleshooting can be performed by the service engineer through the instrument panel for rapid location of any problems.

With compact, standard and high performance models throughout the range, the new Nissan TX Syncro is available in cushion and super-elastic tyre versions from 1.25 to 2.0 tonne lift capacity, with lift heights to seven metres and a range of wide view, high visibility masts.

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