The whole package
February 1st 2006

With the introduction of its new generation reach truck, the Forte, Atlet has completed its co-ordinated range of lift trucks designed for busy distribution warehouses

Atlet's 'Distribution Package' comprises the company's latest trucks developed specifically for the four primary functions of a distribution warehouse: unloading and loading; pallet transporting; stacking and destacking; and order-picking. All trucks offer performance, high levels of safety, advanced ergonomics and sophisticated on-board computer systems - all designed to give high productivity, maximum up-time and low cost of ownership.

Loading & unloading

The Piccolo is a lightweight, ultra-compact powered pallet truck designed for light-duty work on the loading bay and around the warehouse. With capacities up to 2000kg the Piccolo is particularly suited to operations where space is limited. The truck can also be carried on-board vehicles for handling pallets at delivery destinations.

Pallet transporting

The Presto pallet transporter is designed for intensive heavy-duty work including 24/7 operations. The pedestrian/stand-on truck, with capacities up to 2500kg, offers high performance combined with a patented system - Friction Force - to give enhanced traction and stability. It features a specially designed tiller steer-arm which incorporates a computer (the ATC - Atlet Truck Computer) giving PIN access and enabling the truck's driving characteristics to be programmed. The truck is also equipped with Atlet's new TRAC (Truck Remote Access) system which facilitates diagnostic tasks by linking the truck through an ordinary mobile phone, to Atlet's remote service centre computer.

Pallet stacking/destacking & replenishment

Fulfiling these key functions, Atlet has introduced the Forte, the latest generation of its award-winning UNS Tergo reach truck. The new version features enhanced performance, safety and ergonomics.

Compared with the previous UNS Tergo model - which had already been independently rated as the fastestaccelerating reach truck on the market - the Forte's driving speed has been increased by 16%, to a maximum of 14km/h. Its stacking operations are also markedly faster; with new lift/lower motors lift speed has been increased by 20% to 0.7m/s, while the mast reach speed goes up by 66% to 0.2m/s.

The truck is also stronger and quieter, while the ATC on-board computer system has been further developed to aid diagnostics, allow a high degree of drivercustomisation and provide a host of operational data. The Forte also features the TRAC system and is available with lift capacities of 1400, 1600 and 2000 kg and standard lift heights up to 10.8m.

The Forte is arguably the safest highperformance lift truck on the market. It is fitted with Atlet's Stability Support System - S3 - which automatically provides higher truck stability by governing speed and acceleration, and the interface between speed and steering sensitivity. S3 automatically reduces the speed of truck functions in proportion to the height lifted, overrides unsafe manoeuvres and reduces jerkiness in the manipulation of the controls, complementing the new smoothly-damped mast.

Order picking

Low-level order picking - from first and second level in the racking - is a vital link in the distribution warehouse chain, where high work rates, ease of operation and minimal truck downtime are paramount.

According to Atlet, its new Tempo low-level order picker combines high productivity with advanced ergonomics, and offers significantly reduced maintenance costs.

The Tempo series offers a wide choice of options from which users can specify a truck precisely matching their own operational requirements. Two base versions are available: either with the driver position fixed for picking at first level; or rising for picking at second level. Both can be supplied with either low- or high-lift forks to suit the picking regime and the nature and volumes of products picked.

All variants can be supplied with standard tiller arm steering or, as an option, Atlet's new Ergo Steering system, which features motor bike-styled handlebars. The Tempo is equipped with Atlet's Friction Force suspension, the ATC truck computer and TRAC remote diagnostics. It is also available with the S3 system as an optional extra.

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