Long live the evolution
December 1st 2009 Like any successful species, manufacturers
must ensure their ranges evolve to find the
closest fit to the environment they operate in
says Sam Coles, sales director,Toyota
Material Handling UK
BT Reflex, the best selling reach truck range in the
industry, has got better. Toyota Material Handling has
combined this wealth of experience with a commitment
to seeking constant improvement to bring about the evolution of
a new generation of truck.
This focus on small, but relentless steps of improvement,
touching every aspect of production and operation, is central to
Toyota's nature and has established them as the world's number
one producer of material handling equipment.
Toyota is committed to listening to customers and learning
from their experience. Hundreds of truck users across the UK
and Europe were surveyed during the development process to
identify the areas they felt were critical to their success.
Unsurprisingly safety was identified as a clear priority and the
Reflex delivers a raft of changes to ensure operators and those
around them have the highest level of protection.
A clear view of the forks, load and operating environment
allows drivers to manoeuvre confidently and safely. A redesigned
chassis gives class leading visibility in all directions. A low,
sloping console, angling away from the driver, affords a clear view
of the support arms whilst a fan shaped overhead guard gives
excellent visibility of the load at height.
A fleet of the new BT Reflex have been supporting a Toyota
customer in the distribution sector. They need to be able to
provide a fast response to changing market trends. To do this,
they hold extensive UK stocks so they can respond quickly to
orders from major retailers. Operating a fleet of BT Reflex reach
trucks helps them deliver the levels of productivity needed to
support their commitment to their customers.
Smart design allows the Reflex to deliver increased
productivity, whilst also increasing battery performance.
Powerful AC motors lead to increased acceleration, lift and travel
speeds reducing cycle times. Transitional lift control provides
smooth careful handling throughout the lifting range,
eliminating the stop: start effect that saps power and can
destabilise a load. The software on the BT Reflex has been
reconfigured to anticipate the movement of the forks, triggering
an increase in hydraulic pressure ready to cushion the forks
through the free-lift transition. This has a double benefit for the
customer, both improving cycle times and extending battery life.
Driveability is enhanced with independently adjustable
controls, steering console and seat positions to allow operators to
find a comfortable driving position, ideal for intensive, multi
shift operations where a number of drivers use the same truck.
Across a multi-shift day, in an intensive operation, with high
lift heights, small gains make a big difference. The faster lift and
travel speeds of the Reflex are needed to match the pace such an
operation. Customers also need machines with the durability to
stand up to the job. The heavy-duty drive units and gear boxes
on the reach trucks help keep up time high and reduce
maintenance costs.
The BT Reflex range is built to last. It is the first reach truck
range to be produced in Europe using the Toyota Production
System to deliver consistently excellent standards of quality and
reliability, the range features heavy-duty drive units and gear
boxes for extended durability in the most demanding operations.
Fewer parts, along with advanced components – such as totally
brushless motors and leak-free hydraulic connectors, help ensure
that the BT Reflex works harder for longer.
First launched on the Tonero counterbalance truck, the new
generation BT Reflex continues the popular 'plus package'
approach. Each plus package, Safety+, Productivity+, Durability+
and Driveability+ combines a set of factory fitted features that
help tailor the performance of the truck in a particular key area.
Following in the footsteps of the best selling reach truck on
the market, the new BT Reflex satisfies the needs of a very wide
customer base. The plus packages allow customers to select the
features that will deliver payback for their business, for example a
large RDC will require a different spec to a smaller organisation
operating perhaps a single truck. With Toyota, they both benefit
from competitively priced options with the same focus on quality
that comes from the Toyota
Production System. More articles from Toyota Material Handling (UK) Ltd: | 
