Save time and space
June 1st 2006

Space really is the final frontier for most warehouse operators. The problem of how to

maximise pallet locations within the same building envelope is a problem every warehouse

and logistics manager grapples with at some point. Yet according to Narrow Aisle, turning

your warehouse into a ‘TARDIS’ is much more feasible than you might have thought

“Being able to pack in more pallets

than you dreamed your

warehouse could hold is

perfectly possible,” explains John Maguire,

Sales & Marketing Director of Narrow Aisle.

“Fortunately, there’s no need to look to a

Time Lord for the solution. An articulated

FLEXI G3 truck can help warehouse

operators achieve their aims right now.”

Narrow Aisle has become extremely

successful at producing niche space saving

products for the MHE industry and has indepth

insight into the issues facing

operators. John Maguire says: “Whether a

business is expanding, consolidating several

sites or looking to drive down costs per pallet

and increase efficiency, the aim is to do it

with maximum efficiency, lowest cost and

minimum disruption. The spiralling cost of

land, construction and leases often prohibit

moving to a completely new building. Even

were new premises are an option, making

the most of the space available is vital.”

Efficiency

“Getting the most from the space you have

now is the key to profitability as pressure on

profit margins grows. Businesses are seeking

new solutions to materials handling

problems – according to BITA figures and our

own experience, articulated trucks are

grabbing a bigger share of the market year

on year. Many operators find trucks like our

FLEXI G3 can maximise their storage

capacity and deliver much greater

operational flexibility. In some cases, they

can even lead to a reduction in the overall

size of the forklift fleet and avoid warehouse

extensions or relocation,” he adds.

Narrow Aisle has demonstrated time and

again, for both large logistics and

distribution specialists, and smaller

independent warehouse operators that by

installing a VNA system and a FLEXI,

operators using reach trucks can

substantially increase pallet storage capacity

- in some cases, by around 30% more pallets

- simply by saving the extra space a reach

truck requires to turn into the racking. This

saving increases to a dramatic 50% for

companies using counterbalance trucks

within a warehouse environment.

For those warehouses currently using a

two-truck system, with counter balance

working outside, feeding a reach or

dedicated VNA truck inside, there are equally

big rewards. A FLEXI eliminates the need for

this expensive, inefficient arrangement.

Because it loads/unloads lorries and delivers

pallets directly into racking in a single

operation, FLEXI increases productivity and

cuts out double handling. The need, and

cost, of using reach or VNA trucks inside and

counter balances outside is eliminated, often

reducing the size of the overall truck fleet

and enabling operatives to be re-deployed to

other more productive and profitable tasks.

Multi-shifts

There is more good news for warehouse

operators, says John Maguire. New

developments to the range mean no

warehouse environment is alien to the

FLEXI. The truck is so adaptable it can work

in aisle widths of just 1750mm, load to

heights beyond 11m, handling loads up to

2000kg – and operate just as effectively

outside the warehouse as in.

“Many operators who did not think they

could enjoy the advantages of an articulated

truck are finding they can benefit, after all,”

he explains. “Since the launch of the FLEXI

G3, the truck has been developed for use in

almost any warehouse situation, including

multiple-shifts operations and cold stores.

There is now a complete range of models to

choose form including, FLEXI GAS, FLEXI AC,

FLEXI G3 Compact – all ideally suited to

specific needs.”

The FLEXI GAS articulated truck is the first

LPG powered articulated truck with the

ability to work in a 1750mm aisle between

loads. It opens up a new benefits for multishift

operators who want to improve

handling efficiency and maximise storage

space. It brings together a proven, successful

concept – the FLEXI G3 articulated truck

with the best LPG technology available. The

result is a truck that delivers all the outdoor

performance of a counterbalance with all

the cost and efficiency savings a FLEXI offers

over reach trucks.

Productivity

Applications that demand even greater levels

of warehouse efficiency and productivity,

can take advantage of the FLEXI AC drive

model. The 80 Volt system makes higher

power available – resulting in higher lifting,

lowering and travelling speeds than the

original FLEXI™. It also includes a host of

extra features such as an Integrated Control

Module, regenerative braking that add up to

faster pallet cycle times and even greater

productivity potential.

For cold stores Narrow Aisle has

developed the FLEXI G3 Compact, which

features a unique battery change facility.

Narrow Aisle also offers a ‘quick change’

battery feature as standard with the original

FLEXI G3 truck. To raise productivity further,

the batteries can either be recharged in situ

on the truck, or for multi-shift applications,

can be quickly changed with minimal

downtime. The batteries are contained in a

‘cassette’ type unit which is removed by

either rear lift off or roll off for extremely fast

and safe changeovers – so the truck can

simply go straight back to work.

“Whatever the application, the FLEXI has

shown that more storage capacity for the

same space is not the stuff of science fiction

It’s already delivered results for many dozens

of logistics and storage operations in the UK

and further afield, concludes Maguire. “The

Flexi is an innovative way to achieve greater

storage capacity at lower cost per pallet – it’s

just a case of thinking outside the box.”

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