FORKLIFT TRUCKS
WAREHOUSING, HANDLING & STORAGE
HOPPECKE HELPS FREIGHTROUTE TO CUT COSTS BY GOING GREEN A
leading palletised freight delivery company is enjoying important operational benefits and reduced costs after replacing its diesel materials handling fleet with electric forklifts. Working in partnership with battery specialist Hoppecke, Freightroute is also reducing its impact on the environment, while a quieter MHE solution is fostering a more harmonious relationship with neighbouring residents and businesses. Since a lot of Freightroute’s operations take place at night, the switch to an electric fleet has created a much quieter and cleaner working environment. Having started the changeover in 2019, by swapping some of its diesel engine machines for battery- powered counterbalance trucks, Freightroute teamed up with Hoppecke to complete the move and maximise the benefits.
Freightroute is committed to providing its customers with a first-class end-to-end solution. The decision to switch to electric forklifts was therefore made on the understanding that the benefits to the business would not impact adversely on the quality of service provided to customers.
Hoppecke analysed the set-up, then fitted a batcoms datalogger to the existing truck batteries. Using the results to gain a better understanding of Freightroute’s daily operational requirements, Hoppecke was able to increase battery capacity by 30 per cent.
Subsequently, Freightroute adopted Hoppecke’s Trak-Air 5.5-hour charging systems, which are able to dovetail with the palletised freight operation, facilitating opportunity charging during rest periods and a full charge during the morning to lunchtime period.
Gus Whyte, Hoppecke’s Sales Director UK and Ireland, says: “Freightroute was well-aware of the advantages of switching to battery-powered trucks. Our input helped to maximise its investment in the future of the business to deliver improved efficiency and extended battery life whilst also keeping employees safe.
“We’re delighted to help Freightroute achieve significant operational improvements with a set-up that is more efficient. Operational costs have significantly reduced due to savings from lower fuel and forklift maintenance costs.”
Hoppecke provides full maintenance support to Freightroute. The customised service contract includes battery topping and cleaning as well as charger preventative maintenance. Meanwhile, the collection of charger data supports an ongoing operational analysis with a view to driving further efficiencies.
Hoppecke Industrial Batteries
www.hoppecke.com
RUSHLIFT WINS MASSIVE £45M EXTENSION TO SAINT-GOBAIN UK & IRELAND CONTRACT R
ushlift, the national full-service provider of materials handling equipment (MHE), has secured a major three-year extension to its successful, long-running MHE contract with the UK & Ireland business of international building solutions and materials manufacturer and supplier, Saint- Gobain. At the end of the three-year arrangement Saint-Gobain (UK&I) has the option to further extend the contract by two more years.
The new £45m deal continues an existing 10-year agreement with Rushlift to supply, manage and maintain Saint-Gobain (UK&I)’s materials handling fleet across its sites including distant locations such as the Shetland Islands, Isle of Man and Jersey. In total over two thousand mixed-fleet assets will continue to be managed by Rushlift across some 850+ manufacturing and merchant sites operated by Saint-Gobain (UK&I) brands such as Jewson, JP Corry, British Gypsum, Rencol, and many more. As under the existing contract, Rushlift will supply, maintain and support a wide variety of forklift trucks of different manufacture, along with related industrial equipment – from counterbalance trucks, telehandlers, and reach trucks to loading
shovels, powered access platforms and floor cleaning equipment. All vehicles will be regularly serviced under a set maintenance regime, with fast breakdown response and support. Ian Berrill, transport & supply chain solutions director for Saint-Gobain (UK&I) says: “Our customer service performance is absolutely vital to the success of our business and, for us, that means having a forklift truck fleet that we know we can depend upon. We need consistently high standards of maintenance and support across every site we run. Over the last ten years, Rushlift has proved to be a reliable partner, maintaining and upgrading our fleet to match our service SLAs and working closely with us to help achieve our environmental targets. With this contract renewal, we have every confidence that Rushlift will continue to deliver the dedicated service and total support that we need to run our business.” Tom Welland, account director at Rushlift, commented: “We are delighted that Saint-Gobain (UK&I) has again recognised Rushlift as the best- value solution provider for their MHE needs. This is a significant endorsement of our continued commitment to driving service improvements,
36 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
fleet performance and uptime across Saint-Gobain (UK&I)’s materials handling operations. Securing a major extension to one of the largest MHE contracts in the market makes us extremely proud.” As an experienced supplier of counterbalanced and warehouse forklift trucks, Rushlift is able to source the best-suited industrial equipment for the task by accessing back-to-back supply chain agreements procured by Saint-Gobain (UK&I)’s central transport team.
Founded in Bishop Auckland in 1978, Rushlift has grown to become a nationwide materials handling service operation with five sites located across the UK – from Cornwall to Aberdeen, and throughout Ireland – employing over 200 people. The business now offers forklift contract hire, short-term rental, new truck sales, and reconditioned equipment, along with full nationwide service engineering, maintenance and parts support. A separate division, Rushlift GSE, provides ground support equipment, financing and servicing for some of the UK’s largest airlines.
Rushlift
www.rushlift.co.uk 39
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