A number of other features and enhancements have
led to increased durability and reduced cost per hour
of operation. Koffarnus of Hyster highlights design
improvements for rough surfaces and environments,
as well as to undercarriages, drive trains, controllers,
ergonomics, and automated solutions. Others we
consulted mentioned tougher materials and hardware, and better protection against the elements.
Toyota’s Brenneman sums it up this way: “The
good news for pallet truck owners is that technology
pays off in terms of the cost of operation, maintenance, and productivity.” In fact, he adds, the lifespan of modern pallet trucks is “generally as good as
or better than the ‘built like a tank’ pallet trucks of
yesteryear.”
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
Manufacturers have found many ways to make pal-
let trucks more efficient, more cost effective, and
appropriate for a wider range
of applications. But they’re not
done yet. When asked how the
pallet trucks of the future will
differ from those on the mar-
ket today, experts contacted for
this article had the following
predictions:
x There will be more customi-
zation, and more product solu-
tions will be linked to specific
problems, says Rice. She gives
the example of Raymond’s
Pick2Pallet product, which uses
different-colored LED lights
mounted on a pallet truck’s double-length forks to
direct batch picks to the correct pallet. The solution,
which interfaces with the customer’s warehouse man-
agement software and voice-directed picking system,
originally was developed for a grocery customer who
wanted to batch pick but found the picking error
rate to be too high. Customers using the solution
have reduced placement errors by up to 25 percent,
according to Raymond.
x Ergonomics and safety will guide many future
design decisions, says Pedriana. Manufacturers are
focusing on pallet trucks in light of the trend toward
empowering workers with more tools to make their
jobs easier and safer, he says. That includes provid-
ing more information and direction to the operator,
making controls simpler and more intuitive, and
enhancing safety and ergonomics through auto-assist
features. “They see opportunities to drive a reduc-
tion in injuries and employee turnover … by getting
people away from manual equipment,” he explains.
Changing views on ergonomics—focusing not on the
impact of a specific activity but on the cumulative
effects of warehouse work over time—will reinforce
the focus on equipment design as a means to reduce
physical stress.
x As technology continues to evolve, walkie pallet
trucks will continue to become more energy efficient,
says Ardito of MCFA. In addition, some features that
are designed to increase operator comfort and pro-
tection, currently available as options, will eventually
become standard.
x “Integration” will become an important word,
says Hyster’s Koffarnus. He foresees pallet trucks
with integrated energy solutions (such as onboard
chargers with wireless connections or hydrogen fuel
cells), which could dramatically
change their profile. He also
sees pallet trucks being inte-
grated into automated solu-
tions, with savings coming
from driverless operation.
Despite all those futuristic
forecasts, there’s still a place
for the manual pallet jack in
today’s warehouses and DCs.
They’re appropriate for mov-
ing lightweight, compact loads
over short distances; they’re
simple to operate; and they’re
safest for use by new and
temporary workers. They don’t require batteries,
charging, or maintenance, and there’s always that low,
low price—about $200 to $500 per unit.
Furthermore says Harshbarger of Crown, proven
equipment that still has a purpose should be viewed
as “smart and functional, not old-fashioned.” As
material handling demands evolve and change, the
equipment, of course, must change along with them,
he says. Ultimately, though, the focus should be on
end-user satisfaction and operational efficiency. “If
operators have the right equipment to safely, reliably,
and efficiently do their work,” he says, “the age of the
design is not significant.” c
TOBY GOOLEY IS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AT
DC VELOCITY.
