According to researchers at Yale University, sponsors of an electric forklift development program, their new VL electric forklift truck is the most energy efficient and ergonomically advanced counterbalance series available in its weight capacity, which ranges from 2,200 to 3,500 kilograms. This vehicle features five wheelbase and capacity configurations and is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. This forklift truck works especially well in areas where space is at its best.

Other features included on this new VL series include easy access, a three-point entry, adequate floor space, right-hand access, large amount of head room, cushioned arm and palm rests, levers that can be controlled by the fingertips, a full suspension seat, and a heads up display. All of these features work to make the operator as comfortable as possible, and to reduce the occurrence of repetitive stress injuries and body vibrations.

This new forklift truck also enables the customer to decide which operating setting is most suitable for their business. This is called Yale’s e-balance technology. The customer can choose either the high productivity setting or the energy efficiency setting, depending upon their needs. While engaged in the high productivity setting, the forklift will provide maximum traction and hydraulic performance. When the vehicle is operating in the energy efficiency setting, it has been shown through the VDI 2198 standard test to consume 20 percent less energy than the same vehicle manufactured by leading competitors.

Another feature of the VL series forklift truck is the Yalestop Automatic Park Brake. This comes standard on all new electric counterbalance forklift trucks manufactured by Yale, and is automatically enabled when the vehicle is stopped or when the operator is not in place on the seat. This helps to improve the driver’s control over the truck on ramps and steep grades. It also works to increase the productivity of the vehicle when the driver is continuously getting on and off the vehicle. By implementing the use of the Yalestop Automatic Park Brake, the need for alarms or other buzzers used to alert the operator of the forklift truck that the handbrake has not been set is eliminated.

Forklift trucks are an essential part of any warehouse operation. They perform heavy lifting quickly and efficiently. Many companies that use these indispensable machines employ entire fleets of forklift trucks, spending thousands of dollars to do so. The forklift business is rapidly growing, as many more businesses recognize the benefits of using these machines.

Along with playing a vital role in any warehouse operation, forklift trucks can also be extremely dangerous if not properly operated. Each year about 8,000 forklift truck accidents are reported, and about ten of these accidents are fatal. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if the proper safety measures were in place.

One of the most important safety measures that can be taken is to make sure the operator of the forklift is competent to drive the machine. All companies should make certain that forklift operators have been trained for the job, are familiar with the vehicle’s controls, and adheres to the rules of the company. It is recommended that prospective forklift operators earn a Certificate of Basic Forklift Truck Operator Skills. This certificate can be obtained by completing a course on the subject at a qualifying location. Drivers should also be sure to check that all components of the machine are in working order before attempting to operate it. Doing this can prevent many unnecessary accidents from happening. Letting an untrained operator drive a forklift can be compared to allowing someone without a driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

By working together and following safety rules, many forklift truck accidents can be prevented. This also helps to protect employees and customers, as well as any visitors that may be in a warehouse. When used correctly, forklift trucks provide an indispensable service to warehouse workers. These machines are able to complete the work of multiple men in a timely manner and with minimal effort. In order to function at the highest quality, it is important that these powerful machines be maintained properly by their operators. By following safety measures and workplace regulations, businesses can be assured that they are receiving the most productivity from their forklift investments.

Toyota continues to assert itself as an innovative leader in automotive hybrid technology with the launch of its new hybrid forklift – the GENEO-HYBRID. This 3.5 tonne, counterbalance forklift is designed to reduce C02 emissions by half. This is accomplished by using a 2.5 litre diesel engine, in combination with an electric motor and nickel-hydride battery, which cuts fuel consumption dramatically. Even with all of this efficiency, the ground breaking GENEO-HYBRID still offers excellent performance!

This innovative technology comes at a perfect time, when businesses around the world are trying to reduce their fuel costs and decrease their environmental impact and C02 emissions. Toyota’s hybrid line is a proven way for businesses to accomplish these goals, and this new forklift is an excellent example of how technology can work with the environment, or at least, begin to. The forklift’s dual engine uses half the fuel of traditional, similar heavy duty vehicles, yet offers performance equal to standard models, providing a significant savings to the owner and the environment. The power efficiency of the GENEO-HYBRID forklift is increased by recovering energy when the accelerator is released, as well as when the operator changes the direction of travel.

Toyota offers this hybrid as proof of its commitment to cutting edge technology, and customer satisfaction. Hybrid technology helps Toyota to adhere to their self-imposed philosophy of kaizen, continuous improvement, a philosophy of always trying to make things better, even when nothing is actively wrong. Toyota continues to investigate and pursue various alternative technologies in an effort to continually improve on fuel efficiency.

This outstanding vehicle uses unique dual technology – the drive system is powered by a Series Hybrid System, where the drive motor is run by electric energy, from the battery and generator. The load handling is powered by a Parallel Hybrid System, where a hydraulic pump receives mechanical energy from the diesel engine and the generator, and gets electrical energy from the battery. The battery is recharged simply by engine operation, with no need for plugging it in to charge. This makes it a great tool that can be used around the clock, from shift to shift. The GENEO-HYBRID was developed and is manufactured in Japan, and will be launched first into the Japanese marketplace.

Forklifts have been one of the breakthrough inventions during the industrial revolution, the origin of forklifts can be spotted back to the period of world war one where the U.S was becoming a hub for materials handling operations. The forklift gained it significance because of its low cost advantage in terms of the labor required to move heavy cargo from one place to the other.

The basic purpose for forklift usage was to lift heavy cargo from one point and to supply it to a destination.  It was used as an attachment to the tractor to lift the bale on to the truck, this process proved to be beneficial, because of the ease in transportation; the same concept was conceived by industrialists to develop superior forklifts with larger loading capacities. As time progressed, with increasingly superior technology forklifts were used for various purposes like construction of buildings, flyovers and other complex structures in industries.

With technological advancement, we can find many types of forklifts which are meant for different purposes and capacities. Usually a forklift comes in various versions, we have diesel and as well as gas powered forklifts in order to lift the load using the fuel energy. The latest advancement however is by the invention of electric forklift which uses electricity in order to lift the load.
Electric forklifts are cost effective and are very eco friendly in nature because of minimal emission of green house gases as compared to the diesel and gas forklifts which emit more pollutants.

With continuous innovation in science and technology, new types of forklifts such as ones powered by hydrostatic drive which is a more advanced type of forklifts available at the moment which helps to bring down the cost incurred in maintenance of the forklifts, hydrostatic drive usually uses fluid system to control the moment of the forklift and thereby giving a cost effective solution for the end-user.

You’ve heard of the phrase ‘The world comes crashing down around you’ well for this Russian forklift driver the phrase became reality as one minor mistake has gigantic repercussions after he accidently slams his forklift truck into a support beam bringing down an entire shelving system which collapses down and inward, onto the forklift.

Luckily for the driver he escaped with minor injuries but considering he wrecked £250,000 of Russian vodka I have a feeling he won’t be coming back to work too soon.

The video highlights the sort of dangers that forklift drivers must face on a daily basis and how it only takes one second to lose your concentration before everything comes crashing down around you.

This is the SMV Lift Truck a giant 60-tonne super forklift truck capable of handling 40-tonnes of steel blooms at temperatures of up to 800 degrees C. 

Two of these forklifts were recently supplied to Multiserv Group in Rotherham to handle the steel mill services for its customers.  The forklifts solve the issue the company had providing the solution for handling high grade steel.

Brian Kilminster is quoted as saying “”When we understood the new process it was clear we’d need a forklift to move the steel between the casters and the cooling stillages.”

Multiserv realized there was no truck in the world that was capable of what they needed it to do.  So after several detailed reviews Cooper SH had to specially design a special forklift carriage capable of completing the work.