FEATURE COVER STORY
YEARSLEY SWITCHES TO FLEXI for extreme cold store operation
Yearsley Logistics has selected Flexi AC iCE Master articulated warehouse trucks with the latest insulated and heated cab technology for its cold store warehousing division
earsley’s cold store warehousing division offers over 3 million square feet of facilities for major names in the UK retail and manufacturing sectors. The cold store Flexis complete with heated operator cabins have been delivered to several sites and as new opportunities are identified the number looks set to increase further. The latest trucks were identified following a selection process for a new fleet that was necessary due to certain changes in the business model, coupled with an increase in customer demand and throughput volume. As Yearsley Logistics’ existing cold store articulated trucks were coming to the end of their operational life, the company decided to investigate alternative brands. It was keen to stick to the very narrow aisle articulated concept which ensures optimum pallet density in narrow aisle configurations, essential when operating a high cost deep freeze environment. The build quality and reputation for
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extreme reliability of the Flexi AC were factors which won over the Yearsley operations team. Equally important was the helpful and friendly approach of Flexi Narrow Aisle personnel. “Just as we involve our operational
team and take note of their issues we like to develop amicable relationships with suppliers who are open to suggestions from our side. This helps us innovate which is beneficial for all concerned and accords with Flexi Narrow Aisle’s ethos of providing cost effective customer led solutions.” Feedback from detailed site surveys and trials led to certain modifications for some or all of the fleet: to the design of the insulated cabin and steering column to provide excellent visibility and comfort for example. The battery powered Flexi AC models with 2000kg capacity that are now working in Yearsley Logistics warehousing network, are fully insulated with heated cab units and some of the suggestions made by the Yearsley’s team will be incorporated in the Flexi iCE Master design going forward. The trucks are mainly used for inside freezer operation to place and pick pallets that have been deposited in the freezer by other forklifts or power pallet trucks but their versatile design with low
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mast capability means that with loading docks they can be used for collecting and delivering urgent customer product loads directly to the waiting delivery vehicles.
MINIMAL DISRUPTION One crucial issue was the provision of continual battery power for minimum disruption when batteries need to be changed. Flexi supplied two heavy duty batteries and six hour chargers for each unit so that at any one time one is in use the other is charging, while taking up minimal space and saving costs on additional battery requirements. This guarantees a streamlined power for life operation. The quick and easy battery changeover developed by Flexi takes just a minute or so. “We have seen a marked increase in productivity and reliability levels at the sites where the Flexis have been introduced; the insulated and heated cabins allow our operators to work comfortably for longer in temperatures as low as 28 degrees.” The further major factor in Yearsley
Logistics’ decision-making process was the ready availability of short term rental (STR) Flexi AC trucks. Flexi Narrow Aisle
JULY/AUGUST 2014 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
There is a growing trend toward the use of Flexi articulated truck technology across all industry sectors
had recently announced an investment of over £1mllion in its STR fleet. The investment means that Flexi now has over 300 trucks in its STR fleet which is understood to be unique for any articulated forklift manufacturer. The average age of the trucks in Flexi’s short term hire fleet is now less than three years old, providing modern, safe and productive rental equipment at short notice to support seasonal peaks and increased business levels being seen across the logistics sector. Trucks can be hired from between one week and 12 months and include full maintenance and service support in the weekly rental cost. “There is a growing trend toward the use of Flexi articulated truck technology across all industry sectors and STR is increasingly seen as an attractive way of quickly acquiring additional lift truck capacity by more and more companies,” comments Flexi Narrow Aisle’s sales and marketing director John Maguire. “Short term rental appeals to companies for various reasons but operational and budgetary flexibility are perhaps the biggest drivers. Companies can add STR trucks to their fleet to cover busy periods while finance directors can find short term contracts useful as the trucks do not always need to appear in the user company’s balance sheet.” To facilitate the early start-up of an
important customer contract, Yearsley Logistics was able to rent a number of Flexi iCE Master Cold Store specification STR trucks to provide an immediate service to their customer during the standard production lead time; this lead to a completely seamless integration of the new contract. The full range of Flexi articulated forklift trucks including the Flexi VNA, HiLOAD and iCE Master versions are now available for STR. All the products are offered for next day delivery and installation anywhere in the UK and supplied and maintained through Flexi’s national network.
Flexi Narrow Aisle T: 0121 557 6242
www.flexi.co.uk Enter 300
/ MATERIALSHANDLINGLOGISTICS
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