Columbia and Your Green Thumb

The beauty of nature is everywhere, it?s no wonder we want to be surrounded by it in our everyday lives. This desire is so strong that we find ways to bring nature indoors, from that cactus on your desk, to the roses you bought your significant other, even to that basil plant you have sitting on your kitchen counter. But where did all of these plants come from? Do you know what kind of dirty and laborious work goes into getting them to you? The answers to both of those questions can be found in greenhouses and nurseries. Each of these businesses caters to different types of flora and therefore have specialized transportation needs. The product they work with is living, so it is essential that they are able to transport items with care, in a timely fashion. This is where Columbia comes in. Columbia vehicles are tough enough to out-perform the competition yet safe enough to handle the delicate needs of the plants. Additionally, all of Columbia?s transportation solutions are 100% electric. This means there are no tailpipe emissions, which could damage the plants, and there is no noise pollution to potentially interrupt the customer experience. Nurseries need to be able to haul everything from large trees and saplings to shovels and stakes. Columbia vehicles can be engineered with a variety of beds to accommodate those needs. For instance, the Columbia Payloader, with dump bed, is perfect for hauling soil, fertilizer, and large trees. While our Utilitruck, with drop side rails, is ideal for hauling saplings and equipment. Since nurseries primarily operate outdoors, it is essential that vehicles are able to handle uneven terrain. Traveling from asphalt to dirt or gravel can take its toll on a vehicle?s suspension, however, Columbia uses a more robust suspension system that is built to withstand the rough and tumble ways of everyday nursery work. Greenhouses have slightly different needs. Typically plants are smaller and stored in tighter quarters, both indoors and out, so a vehicle with more finesse offers a better solution. The Stockchaser is a great example of a vehicle that can do it all! It has a bed to haul or carry, a tight turning radius, and up to 6,000 lbs. towing capacity. It also fits through a standard doorway. For the larger jobs of hauling dirt, hoses, and other equipment, the Journeyman 2X is another great way to get the job done. Since the labor performed by workers in the greenhouses and nurseries are intense, operator comfort is a must! Columbia ensures that safety and comfort are taken care of. Columbia uses marine grade vinyl seating to withstand even the toughest elements. Practically every seat is adjustable for the shortest to tallest of operators. Adjustability is only the tip of the iceberg for Columbia?s safety features. Our vehicles offer 360 degree visibility, seat belt options, highly visible paint, horns and beepers, and more! The variety of work that goes into the greenhouses and nurseries to bring nature into your office, home, and local park are vast. From hauling fertilizer and spades to transplanting flowers and loading trees, Columbia has the vehicle for the job! Columbia?s electric utility vehicle line up can get the job done easier and more efficiently with operator safety and comfort in mind. Combine this with the wide range of vehicles Columbia offers and the countless customizable options to cater to your every need, and you can trust that our sustainable transportation solutions will get the job done in your greenhouse or nursery!

Forklift Charging Methods

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 view original post here

Anatomy of a Hand Pallet Jack

Hand pallet jacks have been a simple, reliable solution for the transportation of pallets throughout the entire supply chain. Understanding how they operate can help you be more productive, safe, and efficient when using one. This guide will cover hand pallet jack anatomy to help give you a better understanding of the various components and how they work. These tips do not take the place of reading the user instructions or proper operator training, but they reinforce some of the basic principles for operating a hand pallet jack. Please reference your Operator?s Manual for more information on required training and knowledge needed prior to operation. Hand Pallet Jack Anatomy Each part of the pallet jack is essential to its efficient operation. Starting from the top of the pallet jack, there is the handle and control lever. These are used for manual moving, lifting, and lowering of the pallet jack. The handle can be rotated left and right to adjust the direction of the steer wheels, changing the direction of travel. It can also be rotated downward, allowing you to pull the pallet jack comfortably. The control lever is located on the inside of the handle on the right-hand side. It has two different positions, which are used to lift and lower the forks. Control Lever Operation (Raised Position) ? Squeezing in the control lever causes the lift cylinder to lower, which also lowers the forks. The lowering is proportional, so the more you squeeze, the faster the forks will lower. Control Lever Operation (Lowered Position) ? Pushing forward on the control lever puts it in the lowered position. When in this position, pulling down on the handle raises the forks proportionally with each motion. The steer wheels and hydraulic pump are at the base of the unit and are operated using the handle and control lever. There are two different types of wheels available for manual hand pallet jacks: nylon and polyurethane. Read more about these two types of wheels here . Next, the steel frames comprised of two forks that are connected together at the base. Most hand pallet jacks are designed to handle a standard 40? x 48? pallet. This is due to the dimensions of the forks and the load wheel placement. The load wheels are located at the end of each fork and are necessary for travel and supporting the load. Just like the steer wheels, there are different types of load wheel compounds available. The load wheels are connected to lift linkages that run the length of the forks. When the handle is used to raise the forks, the lift cylinder extends, causing the linkages to articulate and the load wheels to raise. It?s always important to note the load wheel?s placement before lifting a pallet or other type of load.

What to Expect When You're Transitioning from Lead Acid to Lithium-Ion Forklift Batteries

When contemplating a forklift fleet transition from lead acid batteries to lithium-ion, there are wide variety of factors that need to be considered including fleet size, shift number, and your operational environment. In the right setting, it?s a big investment that comes with a big return when managed properly ? including a wide variety of efficiency advantages. At the same time, as you might expect, a different power source will come with a wide variety of changes to your operational practice. Here are a few of the differences you can expect, as well as some tips to help make the transition as smooth as possible for your fleet. More Consistent Power Whether you have a single-forklift operation or a large fleet working 24-hours a day, one important factor in delivering results is consistent power throughout the charge of the battery. Lithium-ion forklift batteries deliver consistent power and battery voltage throughout the full charge, whereas lead-acid battery charges deliver declining power rates as the shift wears on. Bottom line: You won?t experience a lag toward the end of the lithium-ion battery?s charge, so plan your tac times and work flows accordingly. End of Life Because lead-acid batteries have been around for so long, there are many recycling programs in place for them when they reach the end of their lives. The recycling rate on lead-acid batteries is high. Recycling programs for lithium-ion batteries are still being developed. Bottom line: Do your research and plan in advance for the end of your lithium-ion battery?s life so you know how to handle and dispose of the old battery appropriately. Faster Charging Speeds In the context of day-to-day operations, lithium-ion forklift batteries offer significantly faster charging speeds and don?t require charging cool down. This can help optimize daily productivity or even reduce the number of forklifts needed to complete objectives. Bottom line: Be prepared with additional work to keep operators and their equipment busy ? you may start moving faster than anticipated. Opportunity Charging Lithium-ion forklift batteries can be opportunity charged in any setting, eliminating the need for time-consuming battery swaps. Bottom line: Make your charging stations convenient to your operators so that they can take advantage of this option during breaks, lunch, and other windows of free time. Fewer Batteries Required Lithium-ion forklift batteries can remain in equipment longer ? to the point where one lithium-ion battery can take the place of three lead-acid batteries in a multi-shift use setting. This helps reduce the cost of storage space required for additional lead-acid batteries. Bottom line: Figure out how much storage space you?ll actually need with the new set up, consolidate your storage space accordingly, and make use of the ?leftover? space with value-adding tasks. Cost The reality is, lithium-ion batteries do cost more than lead-acid batteries. As a result, despite the operational efficiencies they provide, they are not necessarily the right solution for every operation. Bottom line: Before transitioning, be sure that the efficiency returns you expect will outweigh the upfront cost. Virtually Maintenance Free Lithium-ion batteries require none of the watering, equalizing, and cleaning needed to maintain lead-acid batteries. This is a money savings in terms of both maintenance costs and downtime. Bottom line: Make a plan to use the time you get back from this necessary maintenance for other productive tasks. Culture Change Forklift operators who are used to using lead-acid batteries will have to change the way they do their jobs when transitioning to lithium-ion because of the need to plug the forklift in to charge every time it is not in use. This transition requires a culture change that usually includes time for a learning curve. Bottom line: Communicate clearly and intentionally before, during, and after the transition with your operators ? and give them the time they need to adjust to a new way of powering their equipment. Original Post : Justin Albers, Corporate Communications Specialist, Toyota Material Handling

Columbia And Warehouse Safety

Its no secret that warehouses have strict safety regulations to follow. Between facility and OSHA regulations, there are so many things to take into consideration to keep staff safe, and thats why Columbia works diligently to adhere to the highest safety standards and regulations. Each vehicle is engineered with safety in mind. We offer many different upfits for visibility, safety restraints, speed restrictions, tires, and more! Columbia vehicles are built for work too, so you can rest assured that not only will the vehicle have the safest features possible, but it will also be able to tow, haul, or carry your staff, goods, or materials all day long! Let's look at Columbia's line up to see how each vehicle is specifically engineered with warehouse safety in mind. Columbia Chariot is built to transport key personnel quickly and safely throughout your facility. It is 3 times faster than walking and has 360 visability. The Chariot also keeps your personnel safe by removing the chances of people walking slowly through drive lanes and it makes them easier to see by bystanders and other equipment operators. It's narrow design allows for easy transportation through standard doorways as well. Columbia Expediter is uniquely suited to convert from carrying one to two passengers. The rear seat area can be used to transport a small load or it can be converted to a second seat. It is designed to travel through narrow passageways and can be upfit from a 3 wheel to 4 wheel operation. Columbia Payloader is ideal for your heavy loads. Its bed can be upfit for ladder racks, specialty equipment (tanks, welders, etc.), rails, passengers and more! With three different model tow capacities the possiblities are endless! Columiba Stockchaser is the perfect vehicle to traverse narrow aisles to pick orders, restock, or carry maintenance equipment. The Stockchaser can be upfit for a wider deck area, double decking, or even an extended ladder!

The Best Forklift Spare Parts are Toyota Genuine Parts

Forklift spare parts might seem like dime-a-dozen commodities that can be purchased without paying much attention. But smart operations understand that the parts make up the whole, and the best way to maximize the value of your Toyota Forklift is to replace its parts with the originals ? Toyota Genuine Parts . And the only place to get your Toyota Genuine Parts is from your local dealer, or the Toyota Forklift Store . You might pay more up front, but the long-term value of Toyota Genuine Parts comes from their quality, durability, and reliability. What do we mean by quality? You bought your Toyota forklift for a reason. You know the brand and you know Toyota?s reputation for performance. Toyota Genuine Parts are made with the exact same care, quality materials and attention to detail as the forklifts are. Our forklifts are made with Toyota Genuine Parts. What do we mean by durability and reliability? With Toyota Genuine Parts, you won?t have to worry about whether or not your forklift is going to work as hard as you do. Toyota Genuine Parts help increase your overall uptime and help keep you running longer; they?re manufactured to work and last. But there are other good reasons to invest in Toyota Genuine Parts as well. We?re just getting started? Toyota believes the Best Forklift Spare Parts are Guaranteed by an Industry-Leading Warranty Toyota Genuine Parts are covered for two years or 4,000 hours from the date of purchase or installation. In those two years or 4,000 hours, Toyota will provide a replacement part or repair any Toyota replacement part that is defective under normal use and maintenance. Most importantly, Toyota will not charge for any warranty repair or warranty replacement work done at an authorized Toyota dealer in the U.S. during that time. In addition, labor will not be charged on a warranty repair/replacement if the work is performed by a Toyota Certified Technician ! At Toyota, we know our parts are quality, so we will always back them up in writing. Do the others do that? Toyota Certified Technicians are trained using Toyota Genuine Parts Toyota Certified Technicians go through a rigorous training process that includes hours of both classroom and field-supervised training. Our trainers are top-notch, and they won?t let a tech come work on your Toyota forklift until they can assure the highest quality work. And what do Toyota Certified Technicians use during this intensive training process? Toyota Genuine Parts. These are the foundation of the Toyota Certified Technicians? education. They know them inside and out, just like they know every inch of your forklift model. When Toyota Technicians use the best forklift spare parts, you?ll get the best possible work. And that leads to more uptime. That leads to more success, and reinvestment in your business. Operations who Order the Best Forklift Spare Parts Increase Uptime Uptime is what we, in the material handling industry, all strive for. When we?re in uptime, we?re firing on all cylinders and getting more work done. We?re sure you can appreciate the same. So, what?s the best way to keep your fleet running? That?s easy. Dependable, long-lasting parts. Toyota Genuine Parts. Toyota Genuine Parts are manufactured and engineered to work seamlessly with other parts in your Toyota forklift. When a Toyota Genuine Part is your replacement part, you are upgrading your equipment and increasing your uptime. Aside from the obvious, why is uptime so important? Customers like it. When a customer orders something, whatever it is, they usually want it quickly. Uptime means no delays because of the supply chain and quick order fulfillment. You save your reputation. Today?s customers don?t just like things to be completed quickly, they demand it. The last thing you want is to gain a reputation of always having down equipment and therefore delivering things slowly. You?re making good use of your money. The last thing you want is to be paying employees to be sitting around, because the tools they need to complete their job are down. When you are in uptime, your employees are able to do what you?re paying them to do. Your productivity is increased. It?s amazing how much you can get done when you?re not sitting around waiting for something like your forklift to be repaired. You can be innovative. If you?re constantly waiting on down equipment, you?ll barely have time to do the necessities, let alone be innovative. With more uptime, you?ll get the essentials done quicker and therefore, have more time for innovation and improvement. Toyota Carries Forklift Spare Parts that are Compatible with Other Manufacturers Even when you have a mixed fleet, Toyota is your one-stop-shop with our STARLIFT program . Complementing Toyota Genuine Parts, STARLIFT is a parts program that makes forks, tires, oils/chemicals, batteries and other replacement parts available for Toyota forklift mixed-fleet customers. The forks that come standard on your Toyota forklift are the same forks the STARLIFT program offers. Toyota works with two fork manufacturers, Arrow and Cascade . Both are long-standing companies that focus solely on material handling products. The next time you need forks, make it easy on yourself and go to your one-stop-shop Toyota forklift dealer and ask about the STARLIFT Parts program .

Forklift Battery Maintenance & Handling Best Practices

The proper maintenance and handling of forklift batteries is imperative to their longevity. There?s a right way and a wrong way to maintain and handle forklift batteries and doing it properly will ensure your investment is maximized. Proper Handling Forklift batteries can be heavy and dangerous if not handled properly, so it?s important to be educated on the correct way to handle them. Use these tips for some ideas about handling batteries properly: Use special equipment, like a walkie pallet jack equipped with a transfer carriage, to maneuver the battery. Because of the weight of some forklift batteries, no single person should attempt to move a forklift battery alone. Steel toe shoes should also be worn while moving the batteries. An eye and hand washing station should be nearby. Should any hazardous liquid come in contact with hands or eyes, a hand and eye washing station should be conveniently located nearby to remove it as quickly as possible. Chemical-resistant protective gear should be worn while maneuvering batteries. Having a conveniently located eye and hand washing station is necessary, but chemical-resistant gear should also be worn to keep the need for the station at bay. This includes safety glasses and gloves. Remove all metallic jewelry when handling and charging. Proper Charging Properly charging a battery is all about doing it at the right time, for the right amount of time. Use these tips when charging your forklift battery: Designate an area specifically for battery charging. This is an OSHA-recommended best practice. Remember that lead acid batteries should be charged at 80 percent depth of discharge. Charging prior to 80 percent can result in reduced battery life depending on the type of battery. Discharging the battery past 80 percent depth of discharge can also be detrimental. If your battery overflows, take time to rinse it. Rinsing your battery after an overflow will help prevent corrosion. Ensure compatibility between the battery and the charger. The charger that is being used should match the voltage/amperage of the battery. Color coding the connectors and clearly labeling the chargers can help to prevent accidentally connecting a battery to the wrong charger. Proper training is also imperative. Avoid overcharging the battery. Some batteries have battery management systems that can prevent overcharging. If yours doesn?t, take precautions not to overcharge it, which can reduce the battery?s life. Charge and operate the batteries at the proper temperature. Charging a battery in extreme cold or heat can cause reduced service life. Since battery types and specifications may vary, contact the battery manufacturer for their recommended charging temperature range. Add water when needed after the charging cycle. Adding water to a wet-cell battery prior to charging the battery is a common mistake. Pure or distilled water should be used and the watering should occur after a full charge cycle to bring the electrolytes to the proper level. Ensure the charger is turned off before connecting or disconnecting the battery.

TOYOTA ORDER PICKER SOLUTIONS

Part of Toyota?s electric product line includes order pickers, which are commonly used in narrow aisle warehouses, distribution centers, and fulfillment centers. If you think your operations could benefit from a Toyota Order Picker , take a look at some of the more common questions below and see! What is an order picker? An order picker forklift is a piece of equipment used to help operators pick and deliver materials needed for filling out orders. They are designed take the forklift operator up to the rack with or without a load. Commonly, the forks hold a load that is being added to, not being put away. Designed for applications that require an operator to be at the same level as the inventory to pick a specific order, order pickers can help increase efficiency of the users when used in the correct setting. Need some more explanation? Check out the Toyota Order Picker official video below. When are order pickers used? Order pickers are commonly used by warehouses and distribution centers in an order fulfillment application. They are a great option for those needing to remove individual items from shelving. Order pickers can also effectively navigate in narrow aisle environments, which makes them ideal for warehouses that are looking to maximize space and capacity by moving racking closer together. Why would I want an order picker? It?s inefficient to pull an entire pallet down to remove just one or two items. If you?re continuously needing to take just one item off a rack, an order picker is a better option for you than a traditional forklift. Order pickers also provide more flexibility in narrow aisle applications. You could always contact your local Toyota Forklift dealer and discuss the possibility of a warehouse consultation . They will be able to offer suggestions on racking, pieces of equipment, and plenty more to help maximize efficiency in your operations. How do order pickers run? Order pickers are electric and run through the use of rechargeable batteries, very similar to traditional electric forklifts . Order pickers can be manually steered, but in narrow aisle applications, order pickers are commonly guided electronically with wires (usually under the warehouse floor) or mechanically with special profiles fitted on both sides of the aisle and attached to the warehouse floor. Wire guidance systems can be extremely effective when used in the correct setting, and could help reduce the risk of operators hitting the racking, and damaging the forklift, the product, or the racking itself. Toyota Order Picker Toyota?s Order Picker is a great option for those challenging high-reaching warehouse needs. It has a maximum reach height of 390 inches on select models, and can come with a 24-volt or 36-volt electrical system. Toyota offers three models to help fit your needs. 8BPUE15 ? (24 Volt) For Value Driven Applications 8BPU15 ? (24 Volt) For higher lifting and efficiency 8BPUH ? (36 Volt) Best for High-throughput applications Each model also comes with an optional rail and wire guidance system to help reduce the risk of operator driving errors. Like mentioned before, this can help protect your drivers, the forklift, as well as your product. Lift Logic Toyota?s Order Picker also comes with optional Lift Logic, which continuously monitors speed and lift height, allowing for optimized travel speed. This helps operators increase productivity. Lift logic boosts efficiency well beyond conventional lift/lowering speed monitoring systems. If your order picking need is primarily ground level, check out the End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack or a few other Toyota products that can help. To learn more about the Toyota Order Picker, or any other Toyota Forklift products, request a brochure , or you can contact your local Toyota Forklift dealer and see how we can help keep your operations moving.