Stable handling of liquid loads

Friedrich Klumpp GmbH in Stuttgart develops and manufactures high-quality, innovative coating systems for the panel, furniture and flooring industry, which are used worldwide. The family-owned company has been finishing surfaces since 1919 and has invented indispensable technologies such as anti-scratch UV top coats. Klummp Coatings is also a global leader in the field of coating systems for digital printing.

An Aisle-Master articulated forklift truck has been in use on site for several months, which has solved many concerns regarding the efficient and safe handling of raw materials and finished products. These loads, which have to be transported between production and the warehouse, are liquids of various types stored in IBCs or drums on pallets. They require extremely careful handling to ensure that they remain stable during transportation and do not pose a risk to personnel.

Klummp Coatings had previously relied on a high-lift pallet truck for storing and retrieving pallets in the warehouse, as the device coped well with the relatively narrow aisle widths of 2.4 m. However, production manager Harald Felstow was not entirely convinced by the safety reserves available and looked for an alternative, which proved to be anything but easy.

Existing aisle widths formed a limit

The Aisle-Master 15E in outdoor use.

"The challenges for us were multiple," says Harald Felstow. "The new device had to be able to cope with a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications so that the pallets deposited in the yard could be brought into the warehouse. It had to offer optimum protection for the drivers as well as being able to lift IBCs weighing up to 1,200 kg and up to 4.40 m high. Above all, it had to be able to work in the existing aisle widths."

Until Frank Rösler from Combilift recommended the Aisle-Master, the search was in vain, and before the current demonstration, logistics manager Damir Ziberi was still skeptical: "My first reaction was - 'how is this going to work' - but everything went perfectly. The narrow construction and the articulated design ensure that the Aisle-Master can easily access the aisles, where it can store or retrieve pallets between the racks. And even with some free space."

There is no doubt that the electric Aisle-Master 15E model is doing its job - within three months, the operating hours counter showed 662 hours. The AC technology as standard in all Aisle-Masters with electric drive creates the conditions for increased efficiency as acceleration and climbing ability are higher. Fewer wearing parts also ensure low maintenance requirements and improved battery performance: with a daily 8.5-hour shift, Klummp Coatings only needs to recharge the battery every two days.

For the two drivers, the maneuverable truck is an improvement on the old system in many respects. "Thanks to the overhead guard, you feel very safe compared to operating the previous high-lift truck, and the view from the cab is great," says driver Timo Fritz.

Damir Ziberi adds: "As there are some small bumps in the aisles, you had to be very careful beforehand to avoid any risk of tipping - containers with liquid contents are not the easiest loads to handle. But with the Aisle-Master, this is no longer an issue."

Also suitable for outdoor use

Aisle-Masters are manufactured in Monaghan, Ireland, where the parent company Combilift is headquartered. They are a combination of front and reach trucks and are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, even on uneven ground. This flexibility to transport loads directly from the truck to the rack ensures faster goods handling and therefore increased productivity. The product range includes models with load capacities of up to 3 t and lifting heights of up to 15 m. The appliances are supported in Germany by a nationwide and very dense dealer network.

Aisle-Masters are manufactured in Monaghan, Ireland, where the parent company Combilift is headquartered. They are a combination of front and reach trucks and are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, even on uneven ground. With AC front-wheel drive in combination with profiled tires on the drive axle, working with millimeter precision is guaranteed even on very high warehouse levels. This flexibility to transport loads directly from the truck lengthways on the forks straight into the racking ensures cost-effective goods handling. The Aisle-Master product range includes models with load capacities of up to 3 t and lifting heights of up to 15 m. Diesel and LPG drive are available as options. The equipment is supported by a dense nationwide dealer network in Germany.

www.klumpp-coatings.dewww.aisle-master.com