Tugs lend a hand without forking out for training

WE ARE always looking for ways to improve the workday and health and safety levels. This is a huge priority in all industries, particularly those who operate and rely on machinery to alleviate physical labour for their staff. The forklift is the traditional choice when lifting and moving, but electric tow tugs are starting to take over in warehouses, and we know why. Tow tugs have some unique benefits that forklifts can’t compete with. 

What are electric tow tugs ?

Tow tugs are a modern solution to manual handling in the workplace. They’re a cost-effective solution to moving heavy loads safely across a warehouse or lot, especially as they can tow up to 40,000kg! Electric tow tugs are versatile and customisable too. Numerous optional extras can be added to your tow tug to make them work for you. They’re battery operated, which makes them environmentally friendly. They also don’t require any special training or qualifications to use, so they save time and money in the long run. 

Five reasons to choose electric tow tugs over forklifts 

Improved Health and Safety: visibility is better when operating a tow tug. The operator of a tow tug can see over the top of the vehicle, meaning reduced blind spots. With forklifts, visibility is limited because the load has to be lifted high off the floor. This is not the case with tow tugs; the load remains close to the ground. This brings other benefits too, such as there’s no risk of the load falling from a height and causing damage to staff or stock.

Electric tow tugs work better in small spaces: machinery warehouses and manufacturing often need to get around tight corners and small areas, and forklifts can struggle with this precision. Tow tugs have better manoeuvrability. This means the machine is less likely to get damaged due to crashes, and harm to customers and staff is less likely.

No licence required: to use a forklift, users must undergo training and ultimately gain a licence. This process can be costly for businesses and takes up valuable work time. Staff can get comfortable using a tow tug within minutes! They are easy to use and simple to operate, thanks to their design.

Electric tow tugs bring more versatility: tow tugs can be fitted with optional extras, allowing you to move different types of trolleys and bogies with just one unit. You can use these extras to suit most workplace applications. Whether you need to move a train chassis, a static caravan, or a wind turbine, tow tugs can do the job! Tow tugs can also handle various surfaces, from gravel to slippy factory flooring.

Handy compact design (great for storage): the fact that tow tugs have such a small footprint means they are straightforward to use, as mentioned above. This small footprint also means they are easy to store so that they won’t be getting in the way in the workplace. 

There are optional extras such as a spring-back handlebar which reduces the size of the tug, making it easier to store. Forklifts can cause potential health and safety concerns as they are harder to store due to their chunky build. 

Tom Spence is director of Industar. 
www.industar.co.uk