DC Velocity - November 2018

Robotic lift truck: The world may be buzzing about how robotics will revolutionize the warehouse, but for distribution and logistics managers, it can be hard to know where to start.

Hyster Co. provided one example of an entry point for companies looking to “stick their toe into robotics” at this year’s Modex show. The forklift company demonstrated its robotic lift truck solution, which adds robotic capabilities to existing Hyster forklift trucks. The tower on the back of the lift truck is wired with a camera and sensors that allow the truck to work without a driver for those

10 to 20 percent of actions that are routine and repetitive.

One example would be an application where an operator accompanies the robotic lift truck during the picking process.

Once the order has been completely picked and human assistance is no longer required, the lift truck would drive itself over to the dock. Meanwhile, another robotic vehicle would automatically be sent to work with the operator. (Hyster Co., www.

hyster.com)

Forklift reader: Venture Research Inc., a global supplier of RFID (radio-frequency identification) and IoT (Internet of Things)

solutions, has unveiled an “intelligent” industrial forklift reader.

Designed to autonomously manage a pick, drop, stack, and move operation using an array of RFID and IoT sensors, the new reader can withstand both indoor and outdoor harsh environments, the company says. With the swap-pable rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the reader can be quickly installed to full operation in just five minutes on a standard type 2

or type 3 carriage forklift.

The forklift reader can sense its environment and autonomously manage the complete pick/drop/ stack operation while providing store and forward transactions directly to the cloud via Wi-Fi or optional cellular communications. Built-in location tracking that incorporates GPS, RFID, and Io T (BLE) provides positional awareness of the forklift in real time.

Available options include support of up to eight additional antennas, a front-facing camera, flexible power options, and vehicle-mount terminal (VMT) support. (Venture Research Inc., www.ventureresearch.com)

Specialized lift truck forks: Lift truck attachment company Cascade Corp. has unveiled a new line of specialized forks.

Known as “Forks+,” the line consists of weigh, telescopic, and roller platen forks.

The weigh forks automatically weigh and display the weight of pallet loads of up to 10,000 pounds. The weight information can also be communicated to the user’s warehouse management system (WMS).

Telescopic forks, or hydraulic fork extensions, allow lift trucks to load or unload trailers and trains from the side or allow a standard lift truck to be used in place of a reach truck.

The roller platen forks consist of wide forks with built-in rollers that allow the lift truck to handle slipsheets, cartons, or sacks.

The forks include a braking mechanism that keeps the load from rolling off the forks. (Cascade Corp., www.cascorp.com)

Order pickers: Toyota Forklifts has introduced three new order pickers. The new models feature Toyota’s optional Lift Logic Speed and Height Control System, which enables fast and easy picking, the company says. The line includes Toyota’s first model in the class to offer a

36-volt option with a reach height of up to 390 inches.

The three new models come equipped with AC drive, and two models come standard with AC lift. The entry-level model is a 24-volt that lifts up to 240 inches. The mid-level model is also a 24-volt and lifts up to 366 inches with faster lift speeds than competitive 24-volt models, the manufacturer says. The premi-um-level model is a 36-volt and lifts up to 390 inches.

The new order pickers are designed for use in the general warehousing, distribution, general manufacturing, retail, food storage, and cold storage industries. (Toyota Forklifts, www.

toyotaforklift.com/)

Forklift caster wheels: For companies tired of spending hours and money to replace caster wheels on their forklifts, Caster Concepts has come up with a solution: heavy-duty maintenance-free casters. Maintenance-free casters have precision neoprene-sealed ball bearings and hardened raceways, ensuring smooth rotation for several years. The kingpin-less design and thick forged steel can withstand shock loading and side forces, the company says.

The maintenance-free heavy-duty casters are built to handle loads of up to 3,500 pounds and reduce the amount of force needed to get them rolling, according to the manufacturer. The casters are also available in shock-absorbing formats for use as stabilizer casters on electric pallet trucks. (Caster Concepts, www.casterconcepts.com)