Being in a warehouse, and running forklifts through multiple shifts a day can be an extremely taxing job. You need to take time to charge and let them cool down, which in busy operations can be difficult. Now, with the emergence of lithium-ion batteries, opportunity charging is becoming more popular. But what is it?

What is Opportunity Charging?

Opportunity charging is available for forklifts with lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries but is much better suited for LiB. With this method, the batteries can stay in the truck for multiple shifts while being charged. It also takes advantage of breaks to charge the forklift. This means, when your employees are on lunch, taking a break, or switching shifts, the forklift can be plugged in and charged. When the operator returns, the forklift will have enough juice until the next charging opportunity. While opportunity charging is still available for lead-acid batteries, it can have some negative side effects, such as shortened battery life, and increased maintenance requirements. Whereas lithium-ion batteries, it can actually extend the overall life, and there is no need for increased battery maintenance.

What type of Warehouses Utilize Opportunity Charging?

While opportunity charging is best used for multi-shift warehouses, you can schedule a warehouse consultation with your Toyota Forklift dealer to see if it would be beneficial for your business. But in a single shift cycle, you have plenty of time to allow the forklifts to charge when the shift is over. In a multi-shift cycle, you don’t have the benefit of time, so opportunity charging can be extremely helpful in reducing downtime.

Considerations for Opportunity Charging

Now that you know the basics of opportunity charging, you might be open to the idea. But before you can move any further, make sure you take these things into consideration:

• Will your operation benefit from opportunity charging?
  • As we talked about before, opportunity charging is typically for multi-shift operations. See how much time passes between each shift break and if you find that some forklifts have downtime while you wait for them to charge, opportunity charging may be beneficial.
• What kind of charging stations do you have?
  • Opportunity charging does require a specific charging station, so you won’t be able to use the same charging station as you used for your lead-acid batteries. This is an initial investment that your company will need to consider before they make a decision.
• Contact Dillon Toyota Lift if you have any doubts!
  • We can be an excellent resource if you’re thinking about changing to lithium-ion batteries and opportunity charging. We will be able to help you understand if your business needs to make a change, as well as the proper location and process for when the changes are made.

Keep in mind, opportunity charging won’t work for every operation. 

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Depending on what type of operation you run, as well as how many shifts your forklifts are working, you may utilize different charging methods. Selecting the correct charging method can have a major impact on your ROI, and selecting the wrong charging method is often one of the primary reasons that operations don’t realize the return they want from their electric forklifts.

Use this guide to help you explore common methods of forklift battery charging and work with a material handling solutions provider like your authorized Toyota dealer to make the best decision for your operations.

What is Conventional Forklift Battery Charging?

Conventional forklift battery charging is a battery is put it on its charger at the end of a shift and resumes use in the truck when the batter if fully charged. Conventional charging works best for companies that are running a one-shift operation. The downside to this charging method is that adding shifts requires additional batteries for each forklift. Once the first shift is finished, you will need to have a driver/staff take out the battery and replace it with the new one before the next shift can start. This will decrease the amount of time operators are driving the forklift, and subsequently decrease your productivity.

Conventional Forklift Battery Charging Works Best For One-Shift Operations

What is Fast Forklift Battery Charging?

Fast forklift battery charging is partially charging your forklift’s battery in a matter of 10-20 minutes, usually during breaks or between shifts. One benefit of this method is that you do not need a great deal of space for extra battery storage – you are using the same battery and charging more frequently. The downside to fast charging is that it is extremely hard on the battery, impacting the battery warranty, and giving the battery a shorter life. The fast charging method is best used by continuous-use operations since they need to keep forklifts moving as frequently as possible. The less time it takes to charge, the more time the forklift can be in operation. Note that fast charge operations need one night per week to fully charge the trucks and equalize the battery. This is typically completed over the weekend.

Fast Forklift Battery Charging Works Best For Continuous-Use Operations

What is Forklift Battery Opportunity Charging?

Opportunity charging is similar to fast charging and takes advantage of breaks and shift changes to charge the forklift. The biggest difference between opportunity and fast charging is the start rate of the chargers. The start rate of opportunity charging is between 21-30 amps per 100 AH, while fast charging is 31-60 amps per 100 AH. Opportunity charging will also require different chargers than conventional or fast methods. If you use a conventional or fast charger, attempting to opportunity charge may damage the battery and decrease its life.

Opportunity Forklift Battery Charging Works Best For Multi-Shift Operations

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The cost of a forklift is always more than the dollar amount you pay for it. Service and maintenance … repairs … downtime to complete maintenance and repairs … replacement parts. It all adds up.

At Toyota, we get it. And we’re committed to being your complete material handling partner throughout the entire life of your ownership — that’s the Toyota 360 Support Promise that comes standard on every Toyota Forklift you buy and allows you to take advantage of:

Toyota Certified Technicians
Toyota Genuine Parts
Toyota’s industry-leading standard warranty program
The Toyota Mobile Service app

But even with all of that, many customers find that they want even more peace of mind — a way to reduce the risk of maintenance emergencies and lower the cost of potential repairs even further.

Enter Toyota 360 Support Plus: an upgrade option that provides you a year of planned maintenance and an extended product assurance guarantee with the Toyota Extra Care Warranty program. It also allows you to add on the extra option of T-Matics support.

Both are fantastic plans that provide the most comprehensive support in the industry. But maybe you’re wondering: Is upgrading to Toyota 360 Support Plus right for you?

To get a recommendation specific to your operation — taking into account all of the variables and considerations of your usage and application — we recommend contacting Dillon Toyota Lift. But here is a good general guideline.

Upgrading to Toyota 360 Support Plus May Be Right for You If …

You have a large fleet to manage with a lot of moving pieces to keep on task and productive.
You would have a productivity disaster on your hands if even one of your forklifts needed repairs unexpectedly — and you want to minimize every possible risk.
You want extended product support assurance.
You don’t mind spending a little more up front in order to save a lot of time and money later.
You use telematics on your forklifts and want the added option of support for that technology.
You prefer to have things done on your timetable as much as possible.
You’d rather be proactive in preventing unexpected downtime emergencies than reactive in dealing with them when they arise.

Original Post: Shannon Potelicki, Content & Communications Copywriter, Toyota Material Handling

The excitement surrounding the acquisition of a new forklift for your operation is something to be celebrated. We at Toyota are equally excited to help you achieve your goals, and that’s why we work hard to manufacture industry-leading forklifts with legendary reliability. But we also recognize that your forklift success is about more than just the occasional acquisition of a new forklift. Instead, you have unique needs, success measurements, and pain points that need to be addressed throughout the entirety of your forklift’s lifetime.

The Toyota 360 Support promise isn’t just an aftermarket tool for purchase. It’s our promise to integrate with your problems and to help you find material handling solutions wherever possible. When you invest in a comprehensive aftermarket services program with Toyota 360 Support, make sure you’re taking full advantage of that promise and challenge us to fulfill it. You can bet we’re up the task.

Asking Your Toyota Technician

Not only does Toyota promise a four-hour guaranteed turnaround time on maintenance requests, not just anyone will be looking at your forklift. Rather, Toyota Certified Technicians who have been trained on Toyota forklifts, using Toyota Genuine Parts, and comprehensive Toyota dealer training techniques will handle the job. Don’t hesitate to ask your technician about the mechanical operation of your forklift or any efficiency questions you have about its internal function. They are there to help.

Utilizing the Toyota Dealer Network

The extensive Toyota forklifts dealer network is one of the major benefits to all of our customers and an integral part of the Toyota 360 promise. Don’t think of your Toyota forklift dealer as a company there to sell you forklifts. Instead, think of it as a group of people using their collective experience to help you tackle material handling challenges and increase operational efficiencies. We’re most successful when you’re successful, and a partnership built on mutual success is the foundation of the Toyota 360 support promise. From parts needs or warranty claims to consultations regarding proper forklift selection, forklifts’ functionality, capability, or current state of operation, your dealer is there to help with Toyota 360 Support.

Toyota Genuine Parts are the Core of All Repairs

Genuine. It’s that feeling of certainty when you expect fulfilled promises. If the Toyota dealer partnership is the foundation of the Toyota 360 Support promise, then Toyota Genuine Parts are how we deliver on it. Toyota forklifts lead the industry in overall value. Part of that overall value is the sum of the forklift’s Toyota Genuine Parts. And that’s exactly what Certified Toyota Technicians use as part of the Toyota 360 Support promise.

At Toyota, we know that you need more than just a forklift solution. You need solutions to complex operational challenges. Your success is within reach. Our promise is to provide the comprehensive support you need to achieve it.

Original Post:  Jake Stewart, Digital Copywriter, Toyota Material Handling, USA

Shipping containers are typically used to store and transport goods. However, they’ve gotten a second life lately as low-cost housing, retail building, and even swimming pools. As shipping container use continues to increase, you might see more of them in your city, far away from the ports where you expect to see them. Let’s explore the history and specifics of shipping containers, and the innovative ways people are using them today.

Who invented the shipping container?

The first shipping container was invented and patented in 1956 by a man from North Carolina named Malcolm McLean.

What is a shipping container?

Shipping containers are often called “The Box.” Most of them are made of steel with hinged doors and are typically used to store goods and stack on container ships for transport.

What are the measurements of a shipping container?

The standard measurement for a shipping container is called TEU. It stands for twenty-foot, equivalent unit. In other words, a twenty-foot container is one TEU. A forty-foot container is two TEUs. The width of a shipping container is always eight feet, although their heights can vary.

How much do they weigh?

Per ISO standards, shipping containers can weigh up to 11,000 pounds when empty and up to 68,000 pounds when loaded.

Where do you usually find shipping containers?

Many companies use shipping containers, but typically you see them at ports, rail yards, offsite storage facilities and manufacturing plants.

How has the expansion of the Panama Canal changed cargo transport?

With the completion of the expansion of the Panama Canal, ships capable of holding over 12,000 TEUs can now make the passage. That’s almost triple the previous capacity!

The completion of the expansion is expected to increase the number of TEUs being handled by approximately 5 percent per year, with the majority of the growth occurring on the East Coast.

The increase in ship size will drastically reduce the shipping time and cost from Asia to the East Coast and the growth will require more equipment to handle the increased volume. It will also improve business for the railroads and other support industries like storage yards.

What other ways do people use shipping containers?

Beyond housing, retail building and swimming pools, people use shipping containers as indoor gardens, saunas, portable toilets, fire training facilities, schools, and emergency hospitals.

 Original Post: Samantha Horton, Content and Communications Consultant, Toyota Material Handling USA