Pushing power
February 1st 2004

If you handle wheeled loads, equipment from Nu-Star could increase productivity and improve health & safety. Charlotte Stonestreet reports When you hear that Matt Smith started Nu-Star in his bedroom in October 2001 you could be forgiven for thinking you were reading about the latest indie-rock phenomenon to hit the charts. In fact, Nu-Star Material Handling specialises in pedestrian operated electric trucks for the movement of wheeled loads indeed, the company slogan is: if it rolls... we can move it!. In that time the company has acquired a wide base of blue-chip customers in the UK and has exported to countries such as Russia, Finland, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Diversify So, just where did Smith come up with the concept for such a company? Well, both Smith and technical director, Steve Mather, had previously worked for another materials handling company. During this time Smith became aware of an American company called Nu-Star Inc. Operating since the 1960s, primarily in the automotive market, Nu-Star Inc. were looking to diversify into the materials handling market and Smith felt they already had some products that, with a bit of work, could be suitable or the European Market. At the time we had some ideas for new products, so the whole thrust of the relationship was that we would innovate and create new products here in the UK and look to manufacture here and in the States, while sourcing components on a global basis, says Smith. It is a reciprocal arrangement we are entitled to sell Nu-Star-Inc.s product range into Europe and they can sell products we have designed here into the USA. According to Smith, there are two main reasons why companies invest in Nu-Star equipment. The first reason is that they are seeking to increase productivity on the shop floor. Our units bring a degree of automation to many tasks that have always been carried out by hand, says Smith. The second, and increasingly important reason, is health and safety. Todays legislation restricts what one man can push and pull by hand, so companies are legally obliged to provide powered equipment to reduce the possibility of employee injury. Combine this with an increasing number of law firms willing to take on no-win no-fee industrial injury claims and increased responsibility that company directors now face with regard to the safety of their employees, and you have good reasons to justify the investment in our materials handling equipment. One of the main machines offered by Nu-Star is the Power Pusher. Originally designed in 1964 to push automobiles, there are in excess of 22,000 units worldwide, with a failure rate of less than one per cent. To make the basic unit suitable for the European market some changes have to be made to the electrical and control hardware and software in order to get CE approval. In the main its batteries and wiring, says Smith. In terms of the actual physical product, we dont see the need to change what already works extremely well when we manufacture it. Although the basic unit might appear to stay the same, one area in which Nu-Star really comes into its own is providing equipment specifically matched to the individual application. Adding value Where we are really adding value is being able to look at the customers application and design and manufacture a bespoke attachment for the front of our machines specifically for that operation, says Smith. For example, power cable manufacturer, Pirelli Cables uses three Power Pushers at its Wrexham site to move cable drums with flange diameters up to 3200mm weighing up to 16t. Bespoke roller attachments enable the operator to push up against the drum flange in order to roll the drum on the shop-floor. The basic Power Pusher range has a push/pull capacity from 500kg up to 40,000kg, although Nu-Star also supply a bigger Super Power Pusher which has moved loads up to 83t in the rail industry. At the lighter end, the Power Tug has push/pull capacities from 100 to 2000kg. Although this weight doesnt sound like a lot, if you are pushing it for any distance, particularly over uneven surfaces, it can be really hard work, says Smith. And its not just the actual weight that you have to think about the rolling resistance of the load also needs to be considered and the forces required to simultaneously steer the load. Most injuries occur when trying to move loads from a stationary position. With two new variants recently launched and other promised for later in the year, if you are looking to make improvements in the way you handle wheeled loads, Nu-Star will have a solution for you.

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