FEATURE | AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
DRIVING SEAT 2
IN THE From Gorbel boosting productivity at Sellick Equipment to
Konecranes partnering with BMW to assemble all-electric Sports Activity Vehicles in Spartanburg, South Carolina due to go into operation in 2026, we look at the latest news in automotive.
025 marks the 56th anniversary of Sellick Equipment, a company that has grown from a small family operation to a global leader in the
forklift industry. The journey began in 1969 when Walter Sellick, along with his sons Howard and David, converted a Ford 4500 industrial tractor into a 6,000-pound forklift designed for outdoor use. This initial innovation marked the beginning of a family-run business that would evolve over the decades into Sellick Equipment Ltd., a renowned manufacturer of rough- terrain and truck-mounted forklifts. In the early 1970s, Sellick began with basic tractor conversions, but the company’s growth accelerated when they developed an integral one-piece frame for their forklifts. This design allowed the forklifts to accommodate various industrial powertrains and led to major partnerships with well-known brands like John Deere and International Harvester. The idea that started in a small workshop in Harrow, Ontario, soon grew into a company with a global footprint. Today, more than 11,000 Sellick-built forklifts are in use around the world, and the company has over 200 dealers throughout North America. Remarkably, Sellick Equipment is still a family business, with Walter’s grandson Colin Sellick leading the company. Sellick’s forklifts come in a wide range of
sizes and capacities, from 5,000 to 16,000 pounds, and are designed with features like the Sellick See-Thru mast, which provides visibility for operators at higher lift heights of up to 30 feet. Four-wheel drive is a standard feature on all models, making them perfect for rough terrain. Other standard features include operator guarding, full instrumentation, and lighting.
24 | January 2025 |
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Customers can also choose from a range of options, such as fully enclosed cabs with heating and air conditioning, hydraulic fork movement, and various fork lengths and carriage widths, allowing for customization based on specific needs. In 2018, Sellick took a significant step in
expanding its manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a $21 million, 126,000-square-foot assembly plant in Harrow. This new facility was equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including CNC laser cutting machines, automated storage and retrieval systems, and a dedicated paint line. One of the key focuses of the new factory was to improve the movement of heavy, welded subassemblies around the shop floor. To address this, Sellick engineers visited several trade shows, including the Fabtech show in the United States, where they tested various systems and ultimately decided to partner with Gorbel, a company based in Fishers, NY, known for its advanced crane solutions. “When it came down to ease of use, it
was Gorbel by far,” says Colin Sellick. “There was no one that was even close to having a system that worked as well or as easily as the Gorbel system.” At Sellick’s old facility, engineers had
to contend with a number of obstacles, including low ceilings, structural columns every 15 feet, and limited floor space. These limitations made it difficult to move materials efficiently, and in some cases, forklifts were needed to help transport items during the assembly process. But with the new facility, Sellick was able to install two free-standing Gorbel workstation cranes in the fabrication area to support their milling machines. These cranes, which feature a moving bridge that runs
across parallel tracks, provide a flexible way to move heavy loads both vertically and horizontally, helping to streamline the production process. One particularly notable installation
was a 140-foot long workstation crane on the assembly line, which was equipped with four aluminum bridges, including two 2-ton cranes and two 1-ton cranes. This system is capable of servicing 16 welding cells along the line, providing a smoother and more efficient workflow. Productivity has increased as a result, with workers now able to move parts freely along the assembly line without restrictions. The crane system has also created more space for part storage, further improving the flow of operations. Assemblers at Sellick are particularly
pleased with how easy the Gorbel systems are to use, especially under load. The cranes are designed to ensure that the load stays exactly where it should, without drifting or sliding along the bridge, which makes it much easier to place parts with precision.
The push for automation and innovation
doesn’t stop at Sellick. Companies like Konecranes have been leading the way in the use of automation and advanced material handling technology in the automotive industry. In 2000, Konecranes won one of its largest orders from General Motors for the modernization of assembly plants across the US and Canada. More recently, Konecranes has partnered with BMW to help support their new press shop in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which
Gorbel provides Sellick Equipment with
a flexible way to move heavy loads, helping to streamline the production process.
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