Cost savings and productivity gains are being realised at Manchester-based Moben Kitchens which has replaced its ageing lift truck fleet with new machines from Jungheinrich UK.
Purchased on long term contract hire, the new fleet comprises electric and engine powered forklifts, a multi-way reach truck, low level order picker and two new ETX 125 ac-powered man-down VNA pallet handlers – the first of their kind in the UK.
Moben’s warehouse and distribution manager Ian Mawson said the old mixed fleet was outdated and costing a small fortune in maintenance and short-term rental charges.
The ETX narrow aisle trucks have come into their own at Moben’s Old Trafford complex, from where some 350 complete kitchens are despatched every week. The machines undertake all storage and retrieval in the five high 24 aisle racked door, drawer and cupboard storage complex.
A TFG 40 Lpg powered counterbalanced four tonne capacity forklift operates mainly in the “specials” area. It loads high density fibreboard panels on and off computer controlled cutting machines and can store pallets up to 12 high in the raw materials store.
Two other TFG 20 counterbalanced trucks fitted with hydraulic clamp attachments can offload up to eight kitchen appliances at a time from delivery trucks, allowing for fast vehicle turn-round and maximum utilisation of internal storage space.
The electronically controlled all-wheel steering of an ETVQ20 multi-directional reach truck allows long loads such as 3.6m worktops to be stored and retrieved in smaller operating aisles than conventional reach trucks and the truck and its load can operate in restricted floor areas.
