Toyota top of the class
March 1st 2011 An SAS equipped Toyota Tonero has come out top in an independent test of stability in
counterbalance trucks
An independent test of forklift trucks from four wellknown
brands has demonstrated exceptional stability for
the Toyota Tonero engine powered forklift, equipped
with the Toyota System of Active Stability (SAS). The test was
conducted by the independent testing organisation Union
Technique de l'Automobile, du Motocycle et du Cycle (UTAC).
Test conditions followed a proposed European standard for
dynamic lateral stability.While all four forklifts passed the
independent test, only the Toyota Tonero achieved an excellent
score on all requirements. Forklift stability is a key safety factor,
and these test results demonstrate that Toyota forklifts with SAS
are best equipped to help companies drive down driver and
damage costs related to tip-over accidents.
The independent testing organisation UTAC tested four
standard, commonly available forklift trucks including the Toyota
Tonero. The test conditions were based on a proposed European
norm. The Toyota Tonero passed with flying colours,
outperforming the proposed standard – and the other tested forklift
models – in a test designed to measure dynamic lateral stability.
Dynamic lateral stability refers to the ability of a forklift truck
to stay upright and not tip over while in motion. The dynamic
stability test – with two professional test drivers having differing
levels of forklift driving experience – involved making sharp
turns at speed to determine whether the forklift would become
unstable. Particular attention was paid to whether the forklift's
inner rear wheel left the ground, as this indicates vehicle
instability and could lead to the forklift tipping over.
During more than 200 rounds of testing, the Toyota Tonero far
exceeded the other forklift trucks being tested. In particular, the
Toyota Tonero was the only truck where the inner wheel did not
leave the ground with either driver, demonstrating the
exceptional dynamic lateral stability provided by Toyota SAS.
Tony Wallis, operations director for Toyota Material Handling
UK says: "By providing excellent stability, Toyota SAS can help
prevent accidents, injuries and damage to goods. Loss of lateral
stability leading to vehicle tip-over is a major cause of serious
forklift accidents and injuries, and is the single largest cause of
forklift accident fatalities.
"It is an indication of our desire to improve workplace safety
for operators.We strongly believe we can support businesses in
establishing safe, healthy, productive workplaces, by providing
high-quality materials handling products, services and solutions,
as this test demonstrates, Toyota SAS helps keep our forklifts
stable, protecting drivers, goods and the trucks themselves. SAS
addresses costs in two key areas – driver costs and damages
costs, which together can account for more than 70% of the life
cycle cost of your forklift. Forklift accidents can have
particularly serious consequences for companies. Toyota SAS
can help to reduce the risk of forklift accidents, protecting your
employees and your bottom
line." More articles from Toyota Material Handling (UK) Ltd: | 
