3 series ideal for shuttling
February 1st 2010 The new Jungheinrich 3-Series promises
fast and efficient lorry loading and
unloading within and around a busy
warehouse or factory environment
The new 3-Series from Jungheinrich is powered by a
Volkswagen engine and features the same hydrostatic
drive technology as Jungheinrich's top-selling 4-Series
counterbalanced truck collection. The firm says the 3-Series
offers class-leading fuel efficiency, productivity, safety and
reliability at a price that ensures that lifetime costs are
remarkably low.
Hydrostatic drives
In simple terms, hydrostatic drives are self-contained hydraulic
pump and motor systems providing smooth and controllable
acceleration as well as braking. They simply consist of hydraulic
motors fed by a hydrostatic drive pump. Hydraulic oil flows
through hoses connecting the hydrostatic components to
produce a smooth and wear free power transfer to the drive
wheels, contrasting its gear-based transmission counterpart.
Unlike other forklift trucks with hydrostatic drive currently on
the market, the Jungheinrich 3-Series's hydrostatic
drive components have been specifically designed
for forklift use, which means they offer
optimum performance over the life of
the truck.
Shuttling
The new 3-Series is ideal for applications
where a lot of 'shuttling' work is involved
– such as lorry loading and unloading
within and around a busy warehouse or
factory environment.
The firm says: "Furthermore,
thanks to its hydrostatic drive,
acceleration is fast and direct
while changes in direction are
slick and smooth which
ensures that the 3-Series
performs exceptionally well
at applications where quick
and frequent changes of
direction are required."
The Series also features a
working programme settings
feature which is said to be
unique and enhance handling
performance. The operator chooses the mode of operation that
best suits the type of work he or she is doing. For example, in
applications where safety or economy of use are of primary
importance, the 3-Series can be set in Mode One, which restricts
travel speeds, while other options can be selected for optimum
performance inside or outside a warehouse or where the truck is
shuttling. At the push of a button the truck can be tailored to the
user's precise needs.
The working programme feature brings a number of
advantages including safer load handling, reduced tyre wear and
reduced truck speed without compromising lift, tilt or auxiliary
speeds which, in turn, mean less truck damage, fewer accidents
and reduced running costs, increased productivity and greater
environmental benefits.
Of course, within any materials handling application, truck
downtime has to be minimised and trucks in the 3-Series have
been designed to be low maintenance and easy to service.
Hydrostatic drive technology - which virtually eliminates metal
to metal contact and mechanically wearing components - helps
keep maintenance simple and quick and in turn leads to low
whole-life cycle costs.
The well-being of the truck operator was a key consideration
throughout the development of the new range. As a result, the
new 3-Series provides a high degree of operator safety. For
example, the 3-Series has been designed with the counterweight
virtually underneath the operator's seating position. By lowering
the counterweight and positioning it further forward,
Jungheinrich's engineers have effectively changed the truck's
centre of gravity. In doing so they have made the trucks
inherently stable - without the need for additional electronic
stability systems - which as many truck users have found to their
cost, need to be serviced regularly.
Stability
The stability of the VFG 316s-320s is further enhanced by the
truck's high mounted steer axle.
In addition, three operator assistance systems ensure
operator safety: for example, the truck's "Access
Control" system allows the truck to be
operated only once certain sequential
safety mechanisms such as the driver's
seat switch and the safety belt have
been activated.
Other safety features include
excellent operator forward visibility,
which means that during pallet pickup
and put-away the operator has a
virtually unobstructed view. Visibility
to the rear has also considerably
improved due to the low top edge of
the counterweight.
When it comes to the comfort
of the operator, Jungheinrich has
designed-in a number of
ergonomic benefits
including a large and
comfortable cab with
an unobstructed glass
roof to offer excellent all-round
visibility; a height and tilt adjustable steering column and a
push button starter motor and parking brake. The operator also
benefits from the 3-Series's low vibration and noise emissions.
The 3-Series is far quieter in operation than a conventional
torque-converter truck. At the drivers' ear the sound level is on
average a dramatic 3dB(A) quieter than other trucks of a similar
capacity.
Trucks in Jungheinrich's new 3-Series are capable of lifting
loads weighing up to 1600-2000 kg and is available in both LPG
(TFG) and diesel (DFG)
versions. More articles from Jungheinrich UK Ltd: | 
