SELECTING THE RIGHT ORDER PICKER GUIDANCE SYSTEM

Unlike traditional, sit-down forklifts, order pickers travel parallel to racking so that operators can pick products to build out orders. Travelling this close to racking, however, can be a tedious affair. Operators must strike a balance between being close enough to the racking to make the perfect pick , yet still have enough space to travel safely down the aisle without hitting the racking. Guidance systems such as rail and wire guidance can be useful tools for reducing product, racking, and forklift damage. While both rail and wire guidance systems offer similar benefits, the differences in installation and how they function make each option ideal for some applications over others. Rail Guidance Rail guidance systems use physical boundaries to keep order pickers on the desired path. Physical rails need to be installed into the ground in front of the racking to set the path on which the forklift runs. Guide rollers installed on both sides of the order picker allow the forklift to contact the rails on each side and continue to travel down the aisle, potentially minimizing damage to the racking, product, and the order picker. Many advanced systems, such as Toyota?s double rail guidance option with auto-center steering have one unique guide roller with a sensor switch that, when contacted, automatically centers the drive tire, enabling the order picker to continue straight through the rest of the aisle. Since every application varies, it is important to configure the rails and guide rollers appropriately so that operators can work productively and safely within each aisle. The configuration should also cause minimal hindrances to their ability to travel and pick product. In some cases, the rails actually need to be built into the rack depending on the aisle width and available space between the front face of the rack and the rail. Wire Guidance Wire guidance systems require installation of a wire into the ground that is detected by sensors on the truck. These sensors detect the wire and the forklift follows the wire?s path. Travel of the order picker becomes limited to the set confines of the wire?s physical location in the ground. Some wire guidance settings are configurable, such as end of aisle slowdown and travel speed that can be set based on your application?s needs. One advantage of wire guidance systems is that the operator can turn off the guidance system when needed to allow for travel outside of the confines of the wire. This is helpful in certain situations where travel within the confines of the wire limits the forklift?s ability to travel based on the product they are picking and the aisle in which they are operating. Similar to rail guidance, wire guidance can be used in any aisle type, but is most commonly found in narrow and very narrow aisle applications. Wire guidance systems allow the operator to relinquish steering control when the system is active within the aisle, allowing operators to focus more on travel and lift, which can further increase productivity. Making a Decision A number of factors can affect your decision about the guidance system you want to purchase. Pricing between the two different systems can vary greatly, especially depending upon the size of your fleet and your warehouse. Wire guidance systems tend to be more expensive to install for both the sensors and equipment added to the forklift and for the wires and electrical installation at your facility. Next, you have to consider how the two different types of guidance can affect your operation. Applications with larger aisles where the operator must travel between racking on both sides may benefit more from a physical guidance system that would allow that type of travel. In addition, depending on the type, size, and weight of the product you are picking, the distance from the racking required to make a safe pick may vary. Finding the right balance between limiting the distance between the order picker and the racking and optimizing the distance for safe, efficient picking plays a significant role in the choice that you will make. Remember, guidance systems can provide increased productivity and reduce product damage, but they are not ideal for every application. When selecting the right guidance system, make sure to work with a professional who knows your operation and can guide you through the entire process. Dillon Toyota Lift is available to help with designing the optimal layout for your operation to maximize productivity and improve your warehousing efficiency. Original Post HERE

7 REASONS TO USE LITHIUM ION BATTERIES IN ELECTRIC FORKLIFTS

Less maintenance, lower costs, environmental sustainability, and overall worker satisfaction are a few key benefits of using next-generation lithium-ion batteries (sometimes called LIBs) in forklifts. Why Are Lithium Ion Batteries Best for Forklifts? These batteries offer a broad range of advantages for many warehouses and distribution centers because of the ease of charging. Opportunity charging provides the ability to plug in the battery without taking it out of the forklift, as opposed to swapping batteries its lead-acid counterpart requires. High-throughput operations tend to see the biggest bang for their buck when using LIBs, but the benefits are broader than just the return on investment. As the technology behind these batteries advances, we see a broader range of companies using them. Benefits of Using a Lithium Ion Forklift Battery Here are the 7 biggest reasons for your company to explore using lithium-ion batteries: Improved Energy Bills Lithium-ion forklift batteries are more energy-efficient and charge faster than lead-acid batteries, saving you time and money. Equipment Longevity Your lithium-ion battery will typically last two to four times longer than a lead acid battery. This helps you keep up with those long workdays. Less Downtime Lithium-ion batteries don?t need to be swapped out and can be opportunity-charged during operator breaks. Reduced Labor Costs Lithium-ion forklift batteries don?t require traditional maintenance like watering or equalizing. Better Productivity Operators can enjoy longer run-times and zero decline in performance as the battery discharges with forklifts powered by lithium-ion batteries. Less Environmental Impact Lithium-ion batteries have no emissions and their longevity may mean less battery disposal in the future. Onsite Real Estate Businesses can reclaim the area being using as a charging room for additional storage. To learn more about the benefits of lithium-ion technology, click here to download the whitepaper Making the Case for Next-Generation Forklift Power Sources .

Columbia Utility Vehicle Maintenance Tips

These maintenance tips will help you keep your Columbia fleet in service safely and effectively. Perform a thorough inspection of all wiring harnesses with particular attention to evidence of rodent habitation. If evidence is found, it may be necessary to remove vehicle components for a more detailed inspection. Rodent damage to wire harnesses can cause severe failures. Inspect electrical connections for corrosion and clean, as necessary. Operate the brakes and monitor for correct performance. After operating, ensure the pedal returns to its correct ready position. Operate the throttle and monitor for correct performance. After operating, ensure it returns to the correct ready position. Measure battery pack voltage. Extremely low voltages may require independent charging before the vehicle charger will charge the battery pack. Extreme low voltages will fall in these ranges: 5.3V and lower for 6V batteries, 7.2V and lower for 8V Batteries, 10.3V and lower on 12V batteries. These simple tips will help ensure your vehicle is ready for the toughest conditions. If you find any damage during these inspections, make sure to contact us and we can provide the parts and service that may be needed to get your vehicles back to peak performance. To view the complete line of Columbia Utility Vehicles, click here !

Why Choose an Aisle Master Articulated Forklift?

With the ability to operate in very narrow aisles in the warehouse ? available in electric and LPG - the Aisle Master articulated forklift increases and maximizes storage capacity. What?s more, by using the one truck, users can increase productivity and eliminate time-consuming double handling and speed up ?truck to rack? operations. Increase Your Storage Capacity by up to 50% When you require additional warehouse space, you have two options ­? extend your existing facility or move premises. With an Aisle Master articulated forklift, you have a third option. By optimizing your racking layout and reducing aisle widths down to as little as 1.6 m, you can dramatically increase your storage capacity within your existing facility. Greater reach and capacity mean a 50% increase in warehouse storage and reduced costs. Versatility Each VNA truck can operate on any floor surface, both inside and out, eliminating the need for both reach and counterbalance machines, minimising costs. Effortlessly save time and money with the one truck transporting loads from trailer to racking position in a single operation. Thanks to the large rubber tires, operators can make light work of loading and offloading in semi-rough yards while enjoying a smooth ride regardless of the terrain, eliminating the need for both reach and counterbalance machines, thus minimizing costs. Work Stronger for Longer and Reduce Costs High quality, robust construction of chassis and mast means Aisle Master are designed to withstand heavy-duty use inside and out. Each VNA, articulated forklift truck is manufactured to the highest standards using high-grade steel and castings. All Aisle Master product is uniquely factory backed by a 5-year or 5,000 hours parts warranty as standard, giving you total peace of mind across the life of your truck and ensuring lowest total cost of ownership. Ergonomics & Visibility Driver comfort and safety included as standard: enhanced cabin ergonomics and superb visibility lead to fewer operator health problems and less downtime, boosting driver satisfaction and productivity. Easy operation gives greater efficiency and higher productivity ? resulting in better use of space and lower operating costs.

Adjustable Forks For Faster Handling

Cascade-KOOI Reachforks ® provide improved versatility with automatically adjustable fork lengths. With Reachforks , you are equipped to easily manage different pallet sizes or handle multiple pallets at once. They even provide the capacity for double-deep racking, improving workflow and use of space in warehousing. Increase the efficiency of your lift truck by using Cascade-KOOI Hydraulic Reachforks® or Hydraulic Fork Extensions. With Telescopic Forks, trailers can be loaded and unloaded from one side for increased efficiency. Usage of warehouse space can be improved by taking advantage of double-deep racking and utilizing Reachforks®. Hydraulic Fork Extensions are designed to handle different pallets (GMA/Block pallets) from either the long or short side of the pallet. Simply adjust the fork length to your long pallet or multiple pallet depth and pick the load. Features Synchronized fork movement is ensured by the Reachfork® equalizer system, eliminating the need for a separate flow divider. Unique design outer sleeve includes an integrated wear plate. A reinforced heel design reduces deflection. Specially designed wiper ring protects internal hydraulic components. ISO ITA Class II, III, or IV mounting as standard for quick installation. Options Available in a variety of standard lengths and strokes with custom lengths available on special order. Pin type, Drop Shank, and Custom mountings available. Slim model ReachForks® available for easy entry on the shorter side pockets of some pallets. Pallet Stops to prevent outer fork from protruding past the pallet entry. Fork Positioner Shank Lugs and Rolling Hose Kits to easily integrate into a Fork Positioner. Load Backrest to support load when moving forward. Extra wear strips under forks to improve fork life. Stainless steel components to minimize electrical ignition hazards. https://youtu.be/wcJMxkegxA0

ELECTRIC-POWERED FORKLIFT BENEFITS IN THE WAREHOUSE

Electric forklifts can be beneficial in many different work indoor applications (and now even outdoors with Toyota?s 80-Volt Electric Pneumatic Forklift ). Using electric forklifts in your warehouse is one of the most common uses of these machines and for good reason. Electric warehouse forklifts can reduce fuel costs and be charged at intervals that can maximize efficiency across shifts. Take a look at some of the following benefits electric forklifts could have in your warehouse space. Electric Warehouse Forklift Benefits: Less Noise You may not think about it, but having a quieter forklift may impact you or your operator?s ability to operate safely and effectively in certain applications. In smaller, confined spaces, with multiple forklifts running, it could get pretty loud. With electric forklifts, it lowers the noise level, allowing for easier communication, and less fatigue from your operators. Really, the only noise that electric forklifts have is the horn. In certain warehouses, this can make it easier for operators and pedestrians to hear forklift horns, co-workers, or other important workplace sounds. Electric Warehouse Forklift Benefits: Lower Emissions When you are using a gas or LPG burning forklift, you are producing emissions that could be harmful to your associates and products if not properly addressed. Electric forklifts do not generate any CO emissions. This helps keep your employees healthy and lower the impact of emissions in your warehouse. Certain products can also be harmed by emissions including food items, other perishables, and various consumer products. Toyota electric forklifts come in a wide variety of lifting capacities to fit many different applications. Also, fewer emissions are great for the environment! If you are using a gas or LPG forklift in your warehouse instead of electrics, we understand there are many reasons that might have influenced that decision, and Toyota is the U.S. leader in internal combustion forklifts. However, make sure you are using proper ventilation techniques if you?re using one in your warehouse. Electric Warehouse Forklift Benefits: A Wide Range of Options Because your warehouse needs to maximize space, it could be hard to fit a full-sized forklift down your narrow aisles. An electric warehouse forklift can help solve that issue. At Toyota, we have many different electric forklifts to fit your needs. Maybe you need to squeeze in those narrow aisles? The 3-wheel electric would be perfect. It has a tighter turn radius than most forklifts but still has the capacity to lift up to 4,000 lbs. Maybe your warehouse stacks pallets behind each other. This is where reach trucks work great. Being able to place pallets in front of each other makes sure you are maximizing your warehouse space and racking. No matter what type of warehouse blueprint you have, Toyota Material Handling has an electric forklift to fit your needs! Electric Warehouse Forklift Benefits: Operating Cost When it comes to the operating cost of forklifts, electric forklifts can usually be lower than that of internal combustion models. While IC models run on gas, electric forklifts run on, well, electricity! You may need to set up a charging station in your warehouse, but the cost of electricity can be significantly lower than that of fuel. While IC models are still the most popular in the market, electric forklifts are increasing in popularity. So remember, if you are looking to increase productivity and ROI in your warehouse, take a look at all of the different electric forklift options from Toyota. Written By : Lucas Collom, Toyota Material Handling, USA

3 Ways To Help Create A Sustainable Warehouse

As the push for sustainable business practices continues to grow stronger, more and more warehouses are adopting ?green? initiatives. Toyota has been practicing sustainable business practices, led by the guiding rules of the Toyota Production System, and continues to improve our impact on the environment. Practices such as Just-In-Time and Jidoka have helped Toyota Forklifts? manufacturing site achieve a zero-landfill facility status. With benefits ranging from positive environmental impacts to substantial cost savings, making changes in your facility is worth your while. Here are a few of the ways you can bring green warehousing practices to your own facility: Sustainable Warehouse Management: Recycle Recycling, by definition, means reusing material. This might mean converting waste into material that is usable or finding a new purpose so they can be used again. However, when it comes to manufacturing, recycling is about more than just throwing plastic cups and used paper into their respectively labeled bins. It is about making recycling initiatives part of the core of your manufacturing process. Start off small. Send your used packaging material to a recycling center. Take metal shavings from the welding department and recycle them as scrap metal. Dispose of batteries and chemicals in ways that are environmentally sound, including working with a battery recycler to dispose of worn forklift batteries. Sustainable Warehouse Equipment: Use Green-Manufactured Products The efficiency and reliability of your equipment has a tremendous impact on your warehouse processes. Choosing electric products can increase your uptime due to their lower maintenance requirements. They also cut fuel exhausts ? and fuel costs! Toyota offers a full line of electric products ? everything from pallet jacks to THDs ? to keep your facility running smoothly. Aside from forklifts, you can also opt for eco-friendly conveyor systems that cut energy use and maintenance while maintaining a productive workflow. Sustainable Warehouse Sensibility: Check Your Lighting Do the lights always need to be on in every part of your facility? Probably not. Install an energy management system that knows which lights need to be on, and when. Additionally, swap out those old bulbs for energy-efficient LED fixtures to boost energy efficiency and save on electricity costs. There are many ways to bring sustainable practices to your facility. Monitor your efforts and find ways to continuously improve. The gradual implementation of a variety of these techniques over time can transform your facility into green warehouse. Original Post : Anastasia Sistevaris, Communications Copywriter, Toyota Material Handling, USA

BYD Forklifts

BYD?s new forklift charger sets a high bar for the industry. Thanks to the device, BYD forklifts can be fully powered using a 110V charger that requires no extra wiring and can be connected to a standard wall plug. BYD forklifts can fully charge in under 90 minutes and can run 10 hours per day, seven days a week. The reliable batteries in BYD forklifts require zero maintenance and come with a 10 year warranty.