Cat electric trucks built to cope with dust and dirt
January 17th 2012

The new Cat EP13-20(C)PN(T) range of 48V, 3 and 4 wheeled, counterbalanced electric lift trucks are now available in the UK from Impact Handling.

Engineered to operate both indoors and out, whatever the weather, these new trucks answer the call for electric trucks that are more durable in harsh environments.

The company adds longer service intervals, reduced energy consumption, added safety features and quieter operation are all delivered by these new trucks, available in lift capacities of 1.3, 1.5 tonnes (three-wheel versions) and 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 tonnes (three and four-wheel).

The design of this range addresses the historical area of potential weakness for electric lift trucks, their ability to resist the impact of water and dirt. Dust and dirt can adversely affect vulnerable components like motors and brakes, while water can interfere with electrics and help corrode the very body of the truck.

The new lift trucks are designed to address these challenges. All come as standard with IPx4 splash protection. This protects the truck from water ingress from all angles to ensure reliable operation in wet environments both indoor and out.

Dust protection is reinforced with IP54 sealed traction and hydraulic pump motors, while the wet disc brakes resist both water and dust.

The maintenance free, sealed brake units contribute significantly to the greatly extended service interval of 1,000 hours.

For particularly harsh operating conditions, as found in the food and chemical industries both the frame and mast of these trucks can be galvanised, further improving longevity and productivity.

Energy consumption has been reduced by 12% on older models, and both DIN and British Standard Batteries can be fitted. The latter give additional capacity to extend working time by up to 2 hrs.

In terms of safety, the new range deploys the PDS+ system. This cuts power to the drive motors and hydraulics when the driver isn’t seated, preventing unintentional activation of the truck.

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