Picking heights to 12m
May 1st 2011 In addition to the automated order picking solution previewed in the April issue,
Toyota unveiled a range of warehouse equipment at CeMAT. Here are the highlights.
Order picking is one of the fastest growing sectors in
material handling, largely due to online retailing and
increasing consumer demand for a wider choice of
products. At CeMAT, Toyota Material Handling Europe
unveiled new products in this area, as well as a new name for its
order picking range: the BT Optio.
"Order picking is a rapidly expanding process in material
handling operations across Europe, driven by market trends
such as increased online retailing," explains Niclas Sternerup,
TMHE director product planning & support warehouse trucks.
"This, in turn, is making greater demands on the performance
and reliability of order picking trucks. It is also driving picking
to higher levels in a literal sense, in order to make the best use
of available warehouse space."
The H series is designed to offer picking heights of up to
12 metres and is said to allow maximum operational
flexibility, helping companies to drive down costs and
improve warehouse space utilisation.
Additional safety features include multi-point operator
presence sensing, which does not allow the truck to
operate unless the driver is standing inside the truck on
the cab floor with both hands on the
controls. PIN-code access (or the
optional ID key) limits operation to
authorised drivers.
Visibility is optimised thanks to BT's Totalview design, which
features an open cab layout and clear-view mast and overhead
guard.
The components used in the BT
Optio H-series are designed for
hard, continuous work. Powerful
AC drive and lift motors work
together with a heavy-duty
gearbox. Sealed electronic
components and heavy-duty
materials assure a long working
life, with careful attention to
detail assuring reliability at
every level.
Two Optio H-series
models are available, both
with a maximum platform
height of 10.5m for picking
up to 12m. The OME100H
model has a load capacity of
1000kg and auxiliary lift with
fixed or adjustable
forks, and is available
in nine cab widths from
1000mm to 1800mm. The
OMH120HW model has a load
capacity of 1200kg and a 'walkthrough'
design for the picking of large items.
Both basic models OME100H and OME120HW
are available in cold store versions. First production of BT
Optio H is scheduled for Q4, 2011.
CeMAT 2011 also featured the
world premiere of TMHE's new BT
Optio L-series of low-level order
pickers. Designed for all types of firstlevel
order picking, the BT Optio Lseries
will be launched in the second
half of 2011. The new BT Optio Lseries
will have a range of models
with load capacities from 1,000kg
to 2,500kg.
Vector reach trucks
Continuing the focus on
reducing storage space costs,
the new BT Vector R-series
is the latest 'man-down'
VNA range for full pallet
handling. Based on the BT
Reflex reach truck platform,
the BT Vector R-series
offers either turret head or
shuttle fork configurations. Transitional
Lift Control (TLC) assures smooth lifting and
lowering at all speeds, reducing the risk of load damage and
related costs.
The new BT Vector C-series is the latest family of 'man-up'
VNA combi-style trucks, for both full pallet handling and order
picking. The fold-down mast design allows the trucks to be
transported on conventional road vehicles and driven on to
site, rather than requiring heavy lifting equipment during
installation. This dramatically reduces installation time and
cost, and also increases flexibility.
Radioshuttle
Over the past decade, BT Radioshuttle has established a niche
in ultra-high-density storage. Loads are stored in deep storage
tunnels, being placed and retrieved by remote-controlled
shuttle units. This allows economies in the use and cost of
storage space. The new fourth-generation BT Radioshuttle
offers additional safety features, more on-board intelligence for
stock control, and is fully sealed for protection against spills. It
also delivers the highest performance for this type of storage
solution, says Toyota. More articles from Toyota Material Handling (UK) Ltd: | 
