UK Industrial parts fulfilment group, Rico Logistics, continues to grow and has added an additional Flexi ACiON MAX 1500 articulated forklift to the existing fleet of Flexi Trucks in operation at its warehouse at Minworth, on the outskirts of Birmingham.
The manufacturer of the Flexi Truck range of articulated lift truck-based intralogistics solutions, Narrow Aisle, will maintain and support the latest arrival under a set maintenance regime to ensure optimum truck performance and uptime.
In all, Rico runs 10 Flexi Truck forklifts at Minworth.
The newest unit is capable of lifting palletised loads up to 14.4 metres, which allows the full height of the building (including the space in the apex of the roof structure) to be utilised to maximise the site’s pallet capacity and deliver the most cost-efficient storage solution.
The Flexi ACiON range of trucks feature digital electric motor technology that allows all independent drive, hydraulic and power-steering motor functions to be controlled digitally.
This ensures the most productive and energy-efficient performance throughout the working day and results in a near 20 per cent reduction in battery recharge costs over the 24-hour operating shift.
The control systems at the heart of the Flexi ACiON trucks operated by Rico deliver highly integrated performance.
Narrow Aisle managing director, Donald Houston, says: “The Flexi ACiON’s control system allows features such as the operator’s vision camera, height selection facility and aisle sensing technology to be integrated without the need for hard-wired relays, contactors and so on.
This means that far less components are required and, as a result, truck uptime is optimised.
“By fixing the mast and allowing the operator to tilt the fork carriage, pallets can be picked and put-away on the top beam of the highest racking smoothly, safely and efficiently.
“Some of the most serious incidents of rack collapse within warehouses occur because truck operators fail to report collisions and the damage caused goes unnoticed until it is too late.
The Flexi ACiON’s ‘in-aisle impact sensor’ system and cut-out feature mean that at Rico there is absolutely no chance of aisle impact being overlooked.
“Rico Logistics needs materials handling equipment it can depend on and throughout the many years we have worked with the company, Narrow Aisle Ltd, has proved to be a reliable partner, maintaining Rico’s fleet and working to help Rico achieve its throughput targets.”
The truck’s integrated tilting fork carriage and fixed ‘space frame’ mast design eliminates mast sway – even at heights of 14 metres, according to its manufacturer which Flexi Trucks says uniquely enhances the truck’s high lift stability.
Additionally, the ACiON MAX 1500 is equipped with ‘reverse proximity sensors’ which provides a clear audible and visual indication when approaching any object, especially useful when maneuvering at rack aisle ends.
Safety is further enhanced by a ‘smart stop’ system: An ‘in-aisle sensor’ disables the truck if it has come in to contact with an object, such as pallet loads, racking or rack guards within the aisle.
The truck can only be restarted once the driver has reported details of the collision to the designated line manager, thus ensuring that no potential truck/rack impact incidents go unreported.
