FORKLIFT TRUCKS
D
espite having the largest cold storage capacity in Europe, the UK still needs additional cold store space to meet rising demand and ensure these supply chains can operate efficiently. Gaining more space is not
always about constructing new warehouses; existing facilities can be used more purposefully. One way of doing this is through technology innovations, such as the integration of IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence), which can improve operational efficiency and monitoring capabilities in cold stores. But just as important are established solutions for optimising warehouse space, such as articulated forklift trucks. Cold storage operations use articulated lift trucks that are designed for continuous operation in temperatures as low as –30°C. This is great for UK operators seeking high density storage involving narrow aisles in different types of cold stores to accommodate growing demand for perishable goods, frozen foods, online grocery or pharmaceutical products. The desire for convenience is also a key
factor in the UK’s online grocery market being the most developed in the world, accounting for just over 34 per cent of the European market in 2025, according to Market Data Forecast. Outside of the food sector the continually developing pharmaceutical sector delivers innovations, the covid vaccines and weight loss drugs to name just two, that can quickly create enormous demand. Many of these products require temperature-controlled environments that can maintain specific conditions, often between 2 and 8 degrees centigrade.
HIGH DENSITY STORAGE AND NEW COLD STORE OPERATIONS While the cold storage market is expanding in all these areas, operators are challenged to find high density cold storage solutions. Keeping storage areas chilled or frozen, the latter requiring around four times the energy of a normal warehouse, is a costly operation, particularly at a time of rising energy costs.
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CREATING MORE CAPACITY IN THE COLD CHAIN
By Martin Jones, UK Sales Director, Narrow Aisle
The importance of the UK’s cold storage sector continues to grow, supporting critical food, retail and pharmaceutical supply chains across the country
Opting for articulated forklift trucks allows narrow aisle configurations in a cold store to optimise pallet storage density. Flexi articulated forklift trucks can be deployed inside freezers to place and pick pallets that have been deposited by other forklifts or power pallet trucks, but their versatile design means that they can also collect and deliver urgent customer product loads directly to or from the waiting delivery vehicles at the loading docks. A combination of articulated forklift trucks
and low-level order pickers can provide greater flexibility for operations where individual order assembly is required. As articulated trucks do not require wire guidance or steel guide rails, aisle widths can be configured around the requirements of the operation. Without guide rails, the first rack beam can also be positioned at around 2 metres, creating space for case picking at ground level. Very narrow aisle racking served by turret trucks is another approach, although it typically requires a transfer aisle of around 5 metres, which can reduce the amount of space available for storage. An alternative is to combine powered mobile racking with very narrow aisles and articulated trucks, allowing operators to increase storage density while retaining access to individual pallets across chilled and frozen storage areas.
SEPTEMBER 2026 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
WORKING IN THE COLD Reliability is an important consideration for forklifts operating in cold stores, where unplanned downtime can lead to increased operational costs. Maintaining a consistent power supply is also essential for continuous operation. One approach is to use two heavy- duty batteries with six-hour chargers for each truck, allowing one battery to be in use while the other is charging. Battery changeover can also be used to minimise interruptions, with the process taking around a minute. Alternatively, lithium- ion power systems can remove the need for battery changes altogether, depending on the requirements of the operation. While contending with issues such as stricter
food-safety laws and rising energy costs, operators of warehouse cold stores must also find ways to meet the challenges placed on them by rising pharmaceutical exports, the continued expansion of online grocery or growing demand for chilled and frozen foods. Proven articulated forklift truck based high density storage offers a truly advantageous solution.
Flexi
www.flexi.co.uk
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