A Force to be reckoned with
August 1st 2008 Kalmar Industries and STILL Materials Handling have
become partners of the Force India Formula One Team.
Each company has supplied one truck each a Kalmar
DCE120-6 and a STILL RX 70-22 for use at Force India F1's
head quarters at Silverstone, Northamptonshire
2008 marks the first full season for
Force India F1 as the team only
came into existence in October 2007
when Dr Vijay Mallya, together with the
Mol family, established joint venture
company, Orange India Holdings, to
purchase the Spyker Formula One Team.
Today, the team employs over 200 people.
"Generally, people don't tend to
appreciate the vast amount of work
involved in developing these cars and
prepping them for each race," said Mark
Gray, Test Team Chief Mechanic for Force
India. "Each individual component is
designed and built in-house by our own
engineers and technicians, with each part
tested rigorously to ensure absolute safety
and precision. It's really only the engine
and the tyres, which are supplied by Ferrari
and Bridgestone respectively, that we don't
make under this roof."
The 2008 Formula 1 season will take
place in various countries and continents
across the world and Force India needed
reliable materials handling equipment to
ensure that the cars and components are
packed up safely and speedily, ready for
shipping.
STILL RX 70
"We use the STILL RX 70 counterbalance to
load up the containers, before using the big
Kalmar truck to move the containers
themselves," said Iain Marchant, Chief Test
Team Truckie for Force India.
The STILL RX 70-22 2.2 tonnes diesel
counterbalance forklift is not only one of the
fastest, safest and most reliable trucks in its
class, but it also uses less fuel and produces
fewer emissions than any other diesel or LP
gas forklift truck in the world an accolade
which won it the Fork Lift Truck Association's
2008 Environmental Award!
Amazingly, whilst the STILL RX 70 uses
less fuel than any other forklift truck, it is
also one of the most powerful! This is
thanks to STILL's unique hybrid drive system
which consists of an engine (running on
diesel or LP gas) to drive a generator. Via an
intelligent control unit, the generator is then
used to drive the truck and operate the
hydraulics. The advantage is clear:
maximum fuel economy without any loss of
power.
Kalmar DCE120-6
Once the containers are fully loaded and
ready for shipping, the Kalmar DCE120?6
takes over. The DCE120-6 12 tonnes
industrial lift truck offers unrivalled strength
and power, but with a finesse and precision
essential when lifting highly sensitive loads
such as Formula One racing car components
rarely seen on trucks in this class.
The DCE120-6 truck is fitted with
Kalmar's optional Optidrive system a
unique computer controlled system that
offers extremely high precision driving and
handling of the load. Operators can inch
along at an even speed whilst lifting at full
power. This is achieved by making the drive
speed and hoist speeds totally independent
of the applied engine revs and each other.
The truck also features a step-less automatic
gearbox allowing comfortable, efficient and
safe driving with extremely gentle up and
down gear changes.
Clear difference
When using a truck of this size, clear all
round visibility is essential for safe and
efficient manoeuvring. The DCE120-6 has
been designed with operator visibility in
mind and this is clear to see from the
moment you first sit in the cab. The crosshead
in the mast is shaped to present a
narrower profile yet maintain its strength,
and the hydraulic cylinders, hoses and
chains have all been optimised for the best
possible visibility onto the load. To the rear,
the bonnet and counterweight gently slope
away from the operator's cab providing
class-leading visibility even the air filter has
been placed out of the way under the cab
and the exhaust pipe has been positioned
for minimum interference.
In essence, the Kalmar DCE120-6 has
been built for fast, safe and efficient
handling with a total feeling of control in a
big lift truck.
"We are very pleased with the
commitment from both Kalmar and STILL.
Being fast and easy to use, the two trucks do
exactly what we require of them. The STILL
truck is nimble and easy to use in tight
spaces, while the Kalmar truck's visibility is
astonishing on a truck this size. Working
together, the two trucks really compliment
each other and are helping aid the smooth
running of our 2008 Formula One season,"
Iain said. More articles from Still Materials Handling Ltd: | 
