Advertisement feature Cover story
New reach trucks combine ergonomic performance and comfort
The new Atlet Tergo range comprises five advanced reach trucks designed to provide the most ergonomic, efficient and productive performance in all types of materials handling operation
T
he trucks have maximum work- ing loads from 1,200 to 2,500kg and lift heights up to 12.1m to provide operators with total flexi- bility and choice across a range of applications. The most powerful trucks in the range are designed to stack higher, heavier and faster in the most demanding and intensive 24/7 operations such as retail and food dis- tribution. The smaller and compact models are designed for operations where lighter loads and lower lifting heights are the norm, such as newer and growing businesses, and include the first reach truck from Atlet to offer 1,200kg capacity.
These new fifth-generation trucks build on the advances and success of their predecessors to take ergonomics and comfort to new levels. Analysis by Atlet showed every hour on average reach truck operators make 2,000 arm and 1,000 head movements, spend 10 per cent of the time looking upwards, 20 per cent travelling backwards and 70 per cent forwards. The new Tergo oper- ator environment has been redesigned to minimise fatigue, strain and stress associated with this type of work. Each model has features said to make them the most ergonomic and personalised trucks on the market. The mini steer wheel with floating arm rest, an Atlet innovation, and the tilt- ing seat pioneered on earlier models are retained and improved to reduce strain on the neck and shoulders. New features include adjustable seat sus- pension to optimise the position and cushioning for each operator. An adjustable height foot rest helps to ensure a comfortable posture for oper- ators of all sizes. The arm rest and con- trols can also be set for a stress-free body position. Up to nine different adjustments can be made.
The seat on the larger models has a unique, ergonomic patent-pending backrest that can tilt up to 18 degrees to reduce neck and back strain when handling at high levels. The backrest is tall and narrow and adjusts conve- niently to the weight and shape of the operator for maximum comfort. This also allows the operator to turn
S6
towards the direction of travel much more easily for reduced risk of repeti- tive strain injuries.
Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg carried out a compara- tive ergonomic evaluation study of the Atlet Tergo with reach trucks from other manufacturers. The study showed the Tergo offered more ergonomic working postures than other trucks. The Pro Vision mast with integrated hydraulics is designed to promote excellent all-round visibility of the working area, racking and load for optimum operating safety. A new mast damping system and quiet transmis- sion and hydraulics ensure the Tergo has the lowest noise levels on the market at just 58-61dB, depending on model, at the operator’s ear. The com- bined effect of the design advances is to reduce full body vibration by 25 per cent compared to the previous model. Productivity is promoted by innova- tive features. The trucks can operate at up to 14km/h, making them some of the fastest available. The operator can change truck direction hands-free using the accelerator pedal for simpler manoeuvrability. The three-way Ergo Logic II multi-function controller pro- vides single-handed control over lift- ing, lowering and tilting.
The intuitive dashboard and control interface incorporates a clean instru- ment layout. The finger tip control panel is positioned and angled towards the operator for optimum viewing, control and safety. All of the important operator information is clearly displayed.
Atlet’s new Tergo range comprises five reach trucks designed to be ergonomic, efficient and productive
Atlet T: 01844 215501
www.atlet.co.uk Enter 350
The Tergo range includes an intuitive dashboard and control interface with clean instrument layout
The new DCC – dynamic cornering control – automatically reduces the speed of the truck to a safe level when cornering without any intervention by the operator. DCC is included in all Tergo reach trucks equipped with S3, Atlet’s S3 Stability Support System. Driving stability is automatically maintained in a wide range of situa- tions with functions such as DCC and Optimised Performance Control, which adapt mast lift and reach speed to maximise stability and safety when handling loads at high levels. The truck’s on-board Atlet Truck Computer (ATC) manages truck opera- tions and supports efficient mainte- nance. It enables PIN access control which prevents unauthorised use and allows truck performance parameters, including maximum forward, reverse and cornering speeds, lifting and reach speeds, to be optimised for individual operators. This means newly qualified operators can be restricted to slower speeds than experienced colleagues until they are proficient.
All Atlet trucks are designed accord- ing to the company’s modular concept with its warehouse range based on just seven chassis types. This ensures com- ponent commonality which means fewer spare parts are required to remedy the majority of service issues. The ATC also provides on-board diag- nosis technology which allows service engineers to identify maintenance requirements quickly and easily. Advanced diagnostics and compo- nent commonality means Atlet’s mobile service engineers can provide a first time fix rate of 95 per cent and truck uptime of more than 98 per cent. The trucks and components are designed for low energy consumption and extended service intervals
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 Materials Handling & Logistics
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56