Industrial Galvanizers has to handle long telecommunications and transmission power line poles in its new plant in Steele, Ala., which has the largest galvanizing bath on the East Coast.

The poles the firm galvanizes can weigh up to 14,000 pounds, be up to 9 feet in diameter, and have a typical length of 58 feet. To solve the materials handling problem of transporting these poles in its plant, the company turned to the Alabama dealer for a manufacturer of multidirectional forklift/sideloaders.

These vehicles have proven up to the challenge of operating in a 20-foot aisle with 58-feet-long loads. The vehicles pick up poles from tanks at right angles; the forklift/sideloaders also can operate indoors and outdoors.

Industrial Galvanizers chose three vehicles - two 14,000-lb capacity trucks and one 9,000-lb capacity truck. All are diesel powered.

Gene Husted, operations manager at the Steele plant, says the trucks provide "maximum value for the minimum space" in which they must operate.

The trucks have a patented four-way steering system: the operator can travel forward or reverse or left or right. Any change in travel direction is made with the push of a button. The three-wheel design of the truck also makes maneuvering in tight spaces easy.

"Up and over" handling - the unsafe practice of driving with long loads high in the air - is eliminated with these forklift/sideloaders, moreover.

Cargotec
419-825-2331
www.cargotec.com