MMH    Topics 

Lift trucks: Nimble lift trucks in the warehouse and on the road

Walkies offer safe operation in tight spaces, integrated battery chargers.


Mid Valley Foods provides custom-tailored food distribution solutions to clients and retailers across central California. As the company’s customer base grew, so did the demands for its operation, including a need for a new, larger facility and a reliable fleet of forklifts.

The old facility used an aging fleet of pallet trucks from three brands, many of which tended to tip on quick turns, gouging the warehouse floors and damaging product.

In 2011, a new 25,000-square-foot warehouse and freezer facility tripled the operational capacity of the business. The nine new walkie trucks feature excellent side stability with an optional caster system, which allows heavy loads to be moved quickly without tipping or wobbling. In picking alone, the company has seen a 20% boost in efficiency due to increased operator confidence.

After observing the trucks’s stability in the warehouse, the company began using the trucks inside delivery trailers. The chassis design features a short battery compartment and a condensed drive unit, allowing the forklift to maneuver in extremely confined spaces.

“The reliability, stability and maneuverability to move our products around in small spaces, like our warehouse aisles, were the features that really sold us,” said Cheri Casey, co-owner of Mid-Valley Foods. “But when we realized the trucks could be used during deliveries and inside delivery trailers, it was a game-changer.”

The walkies also provide stepless speed control by the drive switch and features roll-back protection on ramps. The forklift crawl speed can also be activated with a separate handle switch, a benefit for maneuvering in confined spaces.

The trucks include an integrated battery charger, which gives drivers flexibility in the field and preserves space inside the warehouse. In the two years since adding the pallet trucks to its fleet, Mid Valley has experienced zero downtime with drivers out in the field, and the pallet trucks have needed only minor, preventative maintenance.

Jungheinrich
877-543-6757
[url=http://www.jungheinrich-lift.com]http://www.jungheinrich-lift.com[/url]


Article Topics

News
Casebook
Food and Beverage
Forklifts
Jungheinrich
Lift Trucks
   All topics

Latest in Materials Handling

Registration open for Pack Expo International 2024
Walmart chooses Swisslog AS/RS and software for third milk processing facility
NetLogistik partners with Vuzix subsidiary Moviynt to offer mobility solutions for warehouses
Materials Handling Robotics: The new world of heterogeneous robotic integration
BSLBATT is looking for new distributors and resellers worldwide
Lucas Watson appointed CSO for Körber’s Parcel Logistics business in North America
Hyster recognizes Dealers of Distinction for 2023
More Materials Handling

About the Author

Josh Bond
Josh Bond was Senior Editor for Modern through July 2020, and was formerly Modern’s lift truck columnist and associate editor. He has a degree in Journalism from Keene State College and has studied business management at Franklin Pierce University.
Follow Modern Materials Handling on FaceBook

Subscribe to Materials Handling Magazine

Subscribe today!
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!
Subscribe today. It's FREE.
Find out what the world's most innovative companies are doing to improve productivity in their plants and distribution centers.
Start your FREE subscription today.

Latest Resources

Materials Handling Robotics: The new world of heterogeneous robotic integration
In this Special Digital Edition, the editorial staff of Modern curates the best robotics coverage over the past year to help track the evolution of this piping hot market.
Case study: Optimizing warehouse space, performance and sustainability
Optimize Parcel Packing to Reduce Costs
More resources

Latest Resources

2023 Automation Study: Usage & Implementation of Warehouse/DC Automation Solutions
2023 Automation Study: Usage & Implementation of Warehouse/DC Automation Solutions
This research was conducted by Peerless Research Group on behalf of Modern Materials Handling to assess usage and purchase intentions forautomation systems...
How Your Storage Practices Can Affect Your Pest Control Program
How Your Storage Practices Can Affect Your Pest Control Program
Discover how your storage practices could be affecting your pest control program and how to prevent pest infestations in your business. Join...

Warehousing Outlook 2023
Warehousing Outlook 2023
2023 is here, and so are new warehousing trends.
Extend the Life of Brownfield Warehouses
Extend the Life of Brownfield Warehouses
Today’s robotic and data-driven automation systems can minimize disruptions and improve the life and productivity of warehouse operations.
Power Supply in Overhead Cranes: Energy Chains vs. Festoons
Power Supply in Overhead Cranes: Energy Chains vs. Festoons
Download this white paper to learn more about how both systems compare.