Food Logistics serves the entire food supply chain industry with targeted content for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.
Issue link: https://foodlogistics.epubxp.com/i/334847
40 JUNE 2014 • FOOD LOGISTICS www.foodlogistics.com anced lift trucks with cascade single/double pallet handlers. The double cascade attach- ments allow operators to unload more pallets from a truck at once. Thanks to alternating current (AC)-powered motors (which have gained favor among manufacturers in recent years), the trucks deliver increased uptime, longer battery run times, decreased mainte- nance costs and, most importantly, moved product faster. Ergonomic features include an adjustable seat and steering wheel and easy- to-reach controls. Fabiano Brothers also uses Raymond Model 8400 end-rider pallet trucks that have a narrower, longer fork than the traditional fork. The forks carry four retail delivery carts at one time. The forks allow order picking and loading functions faster than before. Energy considerations As with all types of vehicles, much of the innovation in lift trucks has focused on more efficient use of energy. The growth of electric lift trucks in recent years has resulted in a stronger focus on battery management. Battery management systems can now give operators access to information on every battery on every truck. These systems can: minimize energy use, avoid overheating, overdischarge and other harmful conditions; give fuel gauge readings to help ensure timely charging; and collect and analyze data for recordkeeping and fleet management. The food industry has been especially aggressive moving to electric vehicles due to food safety concerns, notes Wayne Wilde Sr., field technical sales officer at UniCarriers Americas Corp. Electric trucks are also more energy efficient and likewise more sustain- able. But the move doesn't come without costs. Space and equipment is needed for bat- tery charging, including eye washing stations. The answer to this has been "opportunity" charging, which allows a battery to charge while it's on the truck. This saves labor for battery handling and reduces the number of batteries needed per truck. The Industrial Truck Association (ITA), in its 2013 business trends survey, notes that manufacturers expect to see "opportunity" charging gain ground in the next few years. The ITA also sees growth in "fast" charging, which is faster than opportunity charging, but requires the battery to be charged outside the truck. More economical and energy efficient bat- teries are also coming into play. ITA expects lithium ion batteries to post the most growth in the next few years, thanks to low mainte- nance. However, ITA notes that the lead acid battery remains the most economical solution while also serving an important role as the truck counterweight. One of the most promising battery innova- tions is hydrogen fuel cell technology, which eliminates batteries altogether and produces only water and heat as byproducts of com- bustion. Fuel cell energy is also less suscep- tible to environmental events that disrupt power. ITA, cognizant of the benefits of fuel cell technology, cites the following concerns affecting the pace of growth: cost, delivery, distribution and customer acceptance. Nevertheless, Latham, N.Y.-based Plug Power, one of the nation's leading manu- facturers of fuel cell powered lift trucks, has closed deals with Sysco, Coca Cola, Weg- mans, Kroger, Walmart, and Central Grocers. The company has reportedly sold about 5,000 lift trucks in the last five years. Other types of energy are also evolving. ITA forecasts the most growth in the next three years for liquid propane gas, followed closely by diesel fuel. In the meantime, lift trucks continue to evolve in other ways. As rack storage systems have continued to grow taller, lift truck manufacturers have rec- ognized that optical visual aids are important, according to the ITA's 2013 business trends survey. Lift truck manufacturers view optical safety aids important as both a safety feature and an efficiency enhancement. Looking further into the future, lift truck manufacturers envision greater use of auto- matic guided vehicles (AGVs), depending on the application. Crown Equipment, in a recent white paper on automatic forklifts, notes that vehicles can now accommodate both automatic and manual operation to provide the flexibility needed in a warehouse environment. One application that has emerged is high-volume picking where the operator can remotely advance the forklift, eliminating the need to climb on and off the vehicle multiple times in an aisle. Lift trucks also continue to improve in the areas of reach, speed and weight capacity. Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc., the provider of Jungheinrich lift trucks, recently introduced the Jungheinrich ETR 340 – 335d series of pantograph reach trucks. The 3,500- to 4,500-lb. capacity trucks offer faster lift speeds combined with high capacity retention, allowing loads to be staged at high- er-rack levels for greater warehouse efficiency and productivity. The ETR series provides load handling at heights up to 450 inches, thanks to a sus- pended articulating drive axle that balances load weight for improved stability during cor- nering and when working at high heights. Hyster notes that its W45ZH walkie improves productivity by allowing operators to simultaneously transport and lift pallets. Trucks automatically lift the pallet to the maximum fork height without having to hold the lift button during transport. Distribution facilities have more lift truck choices than ever, thanks to enhanced capabilities. Determining the right product requires a manager to examine the organiza- tion's needs thoroughly and match these requirements with the many available options in today's marketplace. ◆ The Toyota 8-Series Electric Stand-Up Rider maneuvers easily around a warehouse. Lift trucks such as the 6031 from Raymond Corp. deliver increased uptime, longer battery run times and decreased maintenance costs. FLOG_38-41_0614 Whse Sector.indd 40 6/12/14 9:00 AM