PRODUCT REVIEWS
Metal goods handling
Hyster ® electric lift trucks are helping manufacturers of finished metal goods to reduce damage , and the associated costs , at each stage of their operations , whilst keeping productivity high . Numerous manufacturing operations worldwide transform metals such as aluminium , copper or zinc into finished goods , from tiny components to car parts . Hyster ® equipment can often be found supporting these operations at every stage of the process .
The first handling challenge is receiving delivery of small metal coils on a trailer . Hyster ® lift trucks help to unload the coils , which are usually small enough to be handled with standard forks , from the lorry and transport these to the warehouse .
“ A typical lift truck used for this operation is the Hyster ® J3.5XN four-wheel electric forklift , which features a robust chassis , with strong side covers that offer protection against possible impact damage ,” the company told ISMR .
“ Damage at this stage could mean that the metal cannot be used in production , leading to unnecessary costs ,” added Botros Hanna , industry manager for Hyster Europe . “ The Hyster ® J series lift trucks are popular in these operations as they provide good stability , a strong mast and smooth handling as standard , helping to prevent the loads
from being shaken or damaged .”
The Hyster ® J3.5XN electric forklift trucks offer equivalent performance to a Hyster ® IC lift truck and are suitable for indoors and outdoors operations ( e . g . transporting goods from an outdoor loading area to an indoor warehouse ). With three-phase motor technology for the drive and lift , the trucks are suitable for demanding applications during long shifts . Easily accessible components and on-board diagnostics also help to reduce downtime .
Coil collection
For metal goods manufacturing applications , there is a choice of Hyster ® solutions to collect the coils from storage in the warehouse and take them to the production line . Some applications can be served by a Reach Truck , such as the Hyster ® R2.5 ( which includes a driver ’ s cab with operation via touchscreen and joystick , as well as an adjustable steering column for comfort ). Others include the Hyster ® Low , Medium or High-Level Order Pickers or , depending on their warehouse configuration , may use a forklift .
“ No matter which type of electric truck is needed , manufacturers will benefit from zero emissions – something that is
increasingly important to customers in the metal industry ,” explained Botros . “ Electric trucks also tend to operate more quietly , contributing to a more pleasant warehouse working environment .”
Handling finished goods
As this part of the operation is highly repetitive , there is also potential for applications to automate tasks with Hyster ® Robotic solutions such as tow tractors , pedestrian counterbalance trucks and lowlevel order pickers .
When the metal components or products are complete , they will typically be collected from the production line by a Hyster ® lift truck and loaded into lorries for transport to the end user . The finished goods may be packed onto pallets or handled directly on forks .
“ A big challenge at this stage is manoeuvrability , as space in the production area and the loading bay is often at a premium ,” said Botros . “ Three-wheeled Hyster ® electric lift trucks cover this . For example , the tough J2.0XNT model , with a two-tonne capacity , has a Zero Turning Radius ( ZTR ) axle that provides a narrow turning circle , allowing the forklift to be used in narrow aisles and on busy loading and unloading ramps ,” it concluded . n
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