Comfortable fit

Allistair Clarke, warehouse manager, says: "The trucks’ width of just 1030mm makes them a more comfortable fit in the 1900mm aisles as well as in some areas that are even tighter, and the over articulation of more than 90° offers better manoeuvrability and efficiency. It also gives more leeway when reversing, reducing the risk of damage to products and you can make slight adjustments position-wise when taking pallets out, which is particularly appreciated by new drivers.”

The trucks are used primarily inside for putting pallets containing raw materials such as drums of oils and packs of powders into the 6m high bays of racking which accommodate 1900 pallet spaces. They then take them to the manufacturing, production, packaging and quality control areas when needed and also handle finished products in the despatch area where they negotiate some very confined spaces. When they need to work outdoors they cope well with the uneven areas and gradients by the rear entrance.    

Clarke remarks that the drivers were won over during trials: "They preferred the cab layout to other brands as it offers better visibility. Even drivers with little experience were quick to learn the ropes, which is testament to how easy they are to operate.”

The warehouse operates at around 85% capacity and stock throughput is fast, being delivered just-in- time, so speedy handling is crucial, as is reliability. "We get all of this and more, such as long battery life and easy access for charging from our Aisle-Masters," said Clarke. "We made the right choice.”