Following successful trials at a number of its sites, independent timber and builders’ merchant Lawsons has ordered five new JCB 30-19E electric-powered Teletruks.
Family-owned Lawsons, which operates in London and the south-east, is the first UK customer to invest in the JCB 30-19E, which was launched in spring this year and is the first electric-powered model to be added to the Teletruk range.
“The introduction of electric-powered Teletruks has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the truck user community,” said Paul Murray, JCB’s Teletruk general manager. “The launch of the 30-19E opens up so many new markets for us and Lawsons’ order is no doubt the first of many for this hugely exciting product.”
The machines acquired by Lawsons will be deployed at the company’s facilities at Bedford and Edgware, and their acquisition is part of a move by the merchant towards greater use of electric-power across its materials handling equipment fleet.
Lawsons operates from 17 depots – 11 of which are within the boundary of the M25 motorway – and supplies trade and public customers with a broad range of fencing, timber, landscaping and building materials as well as windows and joinery and, of course, tools and other essential site supplies.
With many of its facilities located in urban environments close to residential communities, Lawsons is increasingly conscious of the need to be a good neighbour and is doing all that it can to consider any concerns that those who live near to its depots may have about noise and air quality.
“We make every effort to ensure that the materials handling equipment in use at our sites – particularly those located in higher density environments – is as quiet as possible and complies with current emission standard regulations,” said David Harvey, Lawsons’ group transport manager.
“We are constantly assessing ways of making our depots more environmentally responsible and give careful consideration to the mix of materials handling equipment in operation, so as soon as we heard that JCB had developed an electric-powered Teletruk that is quiet in operation and produces no harmful emissions, we knew that it would be perfect for us.”
Lawsons identified the benefits that the Teletruk would bring to its business when JCB originally launched the forklift back in 1997 and, for some 20 years, JCB Teletruk technology has played a key role in the company’s materials handling processes.
The company currently runs some 55 diesel-powered Teletruks, which are used for a variety of duties, including unloading incoming delivery vehicles, putting away and picking stock and loading the 100 or so lorries and vans that make up Lawsons’ transport fleet with orders bound for customer sites.
Because outside space at many of Lawsons’ sites is limited, the Teletruk is the ideal forklift truck for the company thanks to the fact that its telescopic forward reach boom allows trailer and vehicle beds to be accessed from only one side.
Picking or packing loads from one side only minimises the space needed to load or unload a vehicle, so they can be parked tight to a wall or racking – leaving valuable space free in the central yard area for additional storage, extra delivery vehicles or for tasks such as cross docking.
“Teletruk’s ability to load and unload from one side of a trailer has allowed us to install extra racking at a number of our depots,” said Mr Harvey.
Power to the JCB 30-19E is provided by an 80-volt lead acid battery which can work a full eight hour shift on a single charge. Thanks to its AC electric driveline, the new truck can climb a 21% gradient or ramp with ease and productivity is further enhanced with full free lift of 1575mm as standard and a lift capacity of 1900kg at 2m.
Lawsons’ phased introduction of electricpowered handling equipment across its business will also help the company in its aim to achieve Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Gold accreditation. FORS is a quality assurance standard for operators of commercial fleets.
David Harvey said: “It is important that we demonstrate best practice across our business and we are going for FORS Gold accreditation as part of our ongoing process of continuous improvement.”
JCB announced the launch of a second electric-powered Teletruk – the JCB 35-22E – at the recent IMHX exhibition. The JCB 35-22E has a lift capacity of 3.5 tonnes.
