EQUIPMENT CORNER\\\ Automatic for the freight people


Automatic or semi-automatic forkliſt truck systems are becoming a much more practical alternative for logistics operations, says handling equipment manufacturer, Jungheinrich. Compared with first-generation expensive and sometimes temperamental automatic guided trucks – which used wires embedded in the floor for guidance – the latest systems are based on lasers and tiny transponders that can be quickly and easily inserted into the floor. This also makes changing configurations far quicker and easier. Today’s automatic trucks can,


for instance, stack pallets up to the maximum possible height under a pitched roof but without the risk of crashing into it, because they can be programmed to recognise exactly where they are in the warehouse. They can observe speed restrictions over a rough piece of floor; with the


older systems, the whole operation would have to be slowed down to the maximum safe speed for the worst stretch of floor. The machines are also programmed so that they always take the most efficient route and raise the platform at the optimum moment, which in turn increases time between battery charges, to the extent that it is now possible to operate two shiſts on a single charge. Automated systems made it easier to train operators and also improved safety. Jungheinrich UK’s director


of systems and projects Steve Richmond told a press demonstration organised by the manufacturer at its Warrington site on 20 June that, despite the recession, customers were investing in systems and equipment again but were having to make every pound count. “They need maximum productivity for


a fixed amount of money. Now there’s more investment in mid- level systems. People are switching to semi-automatic systems that can be upgraded to fully automatic systems later.” Jungheinrich has found that


it can vastly improve picker productivity with


its automatic


trucks, mainly because the picker can stay in place on the truck and is not stepping on and off it all the time. Jungheinrich has just launched


a new multi-layer storage system aimed at firms with relatively small numbers of product lines who want to store as many goods as possible in a given area. It uses a powered ‘shuttle’ to move pallets along the racking area with human intervention. The shuttle system can a;so be configured for different pallet sizes. The design of automated very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks had also


been improved to the extent that they can now be used at heights of up to 16.5 metres, added Steve Richmond. “Before, that was the typical domain for a stacker crane,” he said. VNAs tended to be more efficient and available space more efficiently than cranes, he explained. As many UK warehouses are around 14-18m high, VNA operation should now be possible in a much wider range of buildings, he said. Earlier, managing director of


Jungheinrich UK Hans-Herbert Schultz told the conference that Jungheinrich had “the only serious lithium-ion battery truck on the market”. This technology had now developed to the point where it could be used for larger-sized trucks. Li-on is only effective within certain temperature ranges, but it does hold out the prospect of very rapid charging – theoretically even within a tea-break.


Born again for Hyster machine


A new Hyster ReachStacker has achieved such significant fuel cost reductions at Rotterdam’s Barge Center Waalhaven that the Waalhaven Group has placed another order for a similar machine and an empty container handler for its Born facility, says the manufacturer. The RS 45-31CH ReachStacker –


which is Tier 4i / Stage IIIB compliant - has delivered similar performance levels as the previous models, but with much lower fuel consumption - 4 litres per hour less than other reachstackers running in the same application. Barge Terminal Born, another


operation in the Waalhaven Group, subsequently ordered an additional


Hyster RS 45-31CH ReachStacker which can


lift and put away


containers from 45,000kg in the first row, 31,000kg in the second row and 16,000kg in the third. The Born terminal has ordered the new ‘2 over 4’ 9’6” high Hyster empty container handler which also offers similar fuel saving benefits, says Hyster. The new machines will both be used at the Barge and Rail Terminal in Born, in the south of the Netherlands, which provides multimodal transport for continental, deep-sea and short-sea containers. Hyster has combined cooled


Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) with an improved High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system


Explosion-proof forkliſts


Safety specialist Pyroban has launched a new microsite to explain the dangers of using forkliſt trucks in Zone 2 hazardous areas and to demonstrate how to protect against the risk of explosion. The new site, http://system6000.


pyroban.com, features real-time 3D animation showing what happens to a forkliſt truck when it is converted by Pyroban with system6000, the latest explosion proof technology. Justine Wren, Group Marketing


Manager for the Pyroban Group explains: “Explosion protection is a complex and highly legislative subject, but we wanted to make it easy for users and suppliers to


understand what we do, using the latest digital formats.” Interactive 3D animations


help explain various explosion protection methods


such as


restricted breathing enclosures, stainless steel cladding of forks and surface temperature cooling to ensure the engine, motors, brakes, electrics and other components remain below the auto-ignition temperatures of flammable materials. Pyroban converts forkliſt trucks


and similar mobile equipment so that they cannot cause a fire or explosion when used within industries that process, store and distribute flammable materials.


Issue 4 2012


Partnership pays off for PD Ports


PD Ports’ container terminal at Teesport has won the ‘Over £4m Project’ category at the annual Robert Stephenson Awards, which are presented by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North East. The contractor was Hall


Construction Services, working alongside WSP Group and Royal Haskoning for PD Ports. The judges congratulated the


project team on an excellent example of partnering and teamwork in delivering an important project with minimal disruption and maximum benefit to PD Ports. The works at Teesport


Container Terminal 2, which began in January 2011, involved the complete reconstruction of


25


over five hectares of terminal area with new heavy duty paving designed to withstand the increased loads from the container stacks, as well as the installation of four new RTGs and the implementation of a new terminal operating system. This was the first phase of


expanding Teesport’s annual container terminal capacity from 235,000teu to 450,000teu. Group chief executive officer


of PD Ports, David Robinson, said: “The work was successfully completed on schedule, within budget and most importantly the work was carried out whilst we were still operating the terminal without any disruption to our customers.”


to give cleaner and more efficient combustion, and effectively controls NOx emissions. It also features cooling on demand, load sensing hydraulics, RPM management and alternate engine idle speed, to help further reduce the total fuel consumption in


all applications. The ‘Vista’ cab slides over the


entire length of the ReachStacker for optimum visibility when handling containers and there is a container weight display which also shows distance and height.


New crane for Hull


Associated British Ports Hull has taken delivery of a new £1.7m Liebherr LHM 180 mobile harbour crane. It supplements four existing Liebherr mobile harbour cranes as well as a Liebherr mobile excavator crane in King George and Queen Elizabeth Docks and will be used mainly for


handling dry bulk cargoes using a 12 cubic metre grab. However, it can lift up to 64 tonnes of cargo allowing it handle a wide range of other commodities such as containers, packaged or palletised goods, and project cargoes. It can also be transferred between various port operations.


Freightliner upgrades Southampton cranes


Freightliner is replacing the cranes at Southampton Maritime Terminal to boost reliability and support the forthcoming berth enhancements at the port. Liebherr Container Cranes has completed production


of two rail head gantry cranes in Ireland which are currently being shipped to Southampton Port and due for installation in August 2012. It follows similar schemes in Birmingham and Manchester.


Back row (L-R): Alastair Bell, Teesport : Richard Parsons, Royal Haskoning : Tim Barrick, Hall Construction Services Ltd : Richard Coackley, ICE President : Brennig Davis, WSP Group : Barnaby Coulson, Royal Haskoning : Paul Wright, Hall Construction Services Ltd Front Row (L-R): Jeremy Wells, WSP Group : Peter Wood, Teesport


Half-tonne van load liſt from Penny


Penny Hydraulics is offering a new platform liſt that can be fitted inside the rear or side doors of a van capable of handling loads up to 500kg. The Load Liſt 500, which complements the existing 250kg model, is designed for packs, cases, roll cages, trolleys and pallets and performs a similar role to a conventional tail liſt, but can be used in situations where a tail liſt would be unsafe or impractical such as congested urban areas or when parking spaces are too short for convenient access to the rear doors. The device fully retracts the load into the vehicle with no need for manual handling


or liſting. Aſter use the unit retracts


completely inside the vehicle and the platform can be folded up out of the way to leave an unobstructed load space. It does not restrict access to the load area, has little effect on payload capacity and does not need to be deployed to allow entry to the vehicle, says Penny. Special cradles, attachments,


recesses and hitching points can be incorporated into the platform to enhance load stowage and transportation. It can be installed by Penny Hydraulics or a customer’s chosen body builder.


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