![]() ![]() A third option is a programmable shelf-height selector that automatically stops the forks at preselected heights instead of depending on the operator to visually assess when the forks have reached the right spot. “The laser line shoots right into where the fork goes into the pallet opening, so the operator can see that more easily,” explains Susan Comfort, product manager, narrow-aisle products for The Raymond Corp. “Now you can see something you normally couldn’t see while down on the floor,” he says.Ĭamera systems are so beneficial, says Bruce Dickey, vice president sales for Narrow Aisle Inc., that his company has made them a standard feature on its high-lift trucks.Īnother visibility-enhancing option is a laser-line projector mounted on the fork carriage. He considers them essential for applications with double-deep racks. They’re especially useful when minimizing damage is a high priority, says Tim Forlow, senior product marketing manager at Crown Equipment Corp. This provides an eye-level view of the forks’ position and angle, allowing operators to adjust and guide them like a doctor conducting laparoscopic surgery. There are several ways to give operators on the ground an “eye in the sky.” One popular solution is a camera mounted on the fork carriage paired with a video screen in the operator’s compartment. Poor visibility can also cause mistakes that result in damage to the racks, the pallet, or the product, which introduces more delays. The result is a slower operation an operator who isn’t 100 percent sure of fork positions will be cautious and may need a couple of tries to get it right. When forks and pallets are 30 feet or more-often much more-in the air, it’s difficult for an operator on the ground to discern exactly what’s happening up there. Accordingly, there are several considerations warehouse and DC operators should be aware of if they want to get the most productivity from their tall trucks. Height has a big impact on lift trucks’ design and performance, of course. Several said that customers are asking them to design trucks that can reach even higher. How high this equipment can go depends on the type of truck and the application, but the lift truck makers we spoke with for this story offer forklifts with mast heights ranging from 17.5 feet to 59 feet. Examples include reach and stacker forklifts, which keep the operator on the ground while the forks and mast rise to the required height for pallet putaway and retrieval order pickers and turret trucks, which lift the operator into the racks for case or piece picking and articulated very-narrow-aisle (VNA) trucks, which have front steering assemblies that pivot in either direction. Getting the full benefit of warehouses and DCs with narrow aisles and reach-for-the-sky racks requires equipment that’s specifically designed for that environment. Vertical color image of warehouse worker with a forklift in a colorful warehouse setting. Want to get the most from high reach forklifts like order pickers, turret trucks, and reach trucks? Here are a few considerations to keep in mind, along with some productivity-boosting tips from the manufacturers.
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