Truck options explored
April 1st 2011 Examine cost / benefit ratios carefully,
cautions Jim Hammond of Hubtex
There are many ways to save space when a company needs
to store standard sized pallets which could include a
narrow aisle racking system
but also double deep, push back,
drive in and even mobile racking.
The cost of all these options varies
but generally, the more expensive the
system, the more benefit it will be to
the customer. For example, mobile
racking is the most expensive but in
a cold store, this system is the most
cost effective as the cost per cubic
metre of space to keep cold (down to
minus 23Deg C). On all of these
options, there is a cost/saving
equation to consider in depth.
However, when it comes to handling long loads, enormous
savings in space and therefore cost can be made when handling
the goods sideways rather than on the forks of a counterbalance
truck and this is easily attained using a sideloader. Timber yards
generally use this kind of equipment for the indoor/outdoor
storage of their long products which can be up to 6 metres long
but for an indoor only application where the cost of space and
heating a building has to be considered, the cost savings overall
can be huge.Whereas a sideloader for handling timber is
predominately two way, the best indoor truck is widely
considered to be an electric sideloader which can have 4 way or
multidirectional steering.
Other benefits of such trucks are zero emissions;
comparatively lower running costs, better manoeuvrability and
the trucks are also very quiet.
The chosen truck has to work in perfect harmony with the
racking system which is necessary if the space allowed for storage
is restricted. A properly designed racking system and truck
creates a safe and efficient space
saving storage system. For example, a
1200mm deep racking system needs
only an aisle of just over 2000mm to
allow a sideloader with a long load to
work, provided it is guided.
Choosing a truck to handle long
loads in a tight indoor environment is
not too difficult. Although there are
not so many manufacturers of this
type of equipment to choose from,
they all generally offer and understand
the requirements for a given
application. Investigating their
background and seeing applications with happy customers is
equally important, though. More articles from Hubtex (UK) Ltd: | 
