52 DC VELOCITY NOVEMBER 2018 www.dcvelocity.com
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Zone lights: To alert pedestrians to
the presence of a forklift, Larson Electronics
Interior door control panel: The “Graphic User Interface” (GUI)
offers LED zone lights in red and blue, as well
by Rite-Hite is an interior door control panel designed to enhance
as LED strobe lamps. The company’s forklift
worker safety and provide real-time data. The new interface uses
safety lighting units operate on low voltage
low-voltage connections from the larger junction box near the
and come with flexible mounting compo-
motor to provide access to door settings without the risk of arc
nents, such as magnetic mounts, brackets,
flash, eliminating the need for workers to wear personal protec-
and clamps. These features enable forklift
tive equipment when making adjustments or troubleshooting
operators to secure the lights on racks and frames.
the box.
When the forklift is in operation, the unit projects a thick red
The GUI system features a 7-inch color LCD touchscreen with
or blue beam on the ground, warning pedestrians of the vehicle’s
icons and descriptions displaying adjustments. The company
presence. The LED strobe and zone lights can be combined with
designed graphics to make troubleshooting simple for workers.
audible alarms, horns, and other notification devices for a com-
The panel also provides instant data on the door, including num-
prehensive approach to operational safety, the company says.
ber of cycles and average cycle time per opening and closing. It
(Larson Electronics, www.larsonelectronics.com)
can be integrated with many building management systems to
provide further operational efficiencies in a facility. The GUI also
Pallet truck with Li-ion battery: The Raymond Corp. has
supports multiple languages.
introduced the Model 8250 AC walkie pallet truck with 24-volt
The plastic NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers
156 ampere-hour light EV battery pack. Built specifically for the
Association) 4X enclosure is designed for any application, from
Raymond Model 8250, this double–power-capacity lithium-ion
interior or exterior use to washdown areas, coolers, and freezers.
(Li-ion) battery pack has been UL 2271 listed.
The control panel is pre-wired and factory tested, and can be
The Model 8250 with Li-ion battery provides CAN (control-
used on any Rite-Hite door with an i-COMM III digital control and
ler area network) communication that allows data exchange
encoder. (Rite-Hite, www.ritehite.com)
between the truck and battery pack, providing operator feedback
C
in the form of fault codes displayed on the truck’s control handle
Drive-in rack system: Steel King Industries Inc., a manufacturer
as well as audible and visual alarms if charge is required or low.
of material handling products and systems, has introduced its
M
The onboard battery management system allows the user to
drive-in rack systems.
Y
schedule charge times, provides notifications when charging is
According to the company, drive-in and drive-through racking
required, and monitors charging and usage to prevent overcharg-
allows users to store up to 75 percent more pallets than with
CM
ing and discharging events.
selective racking because it requires fewer aisles and can provide
MY
As an added benefit, the power pack includes integrated
better cube utilization
CY
heaters for superior cold storage needs and thermal controls
than selective racks.
that reduce the risk of damage caused by environ-
Forklifts drive directly
CMY
mental extremes. The power pack has been designed
into the rack, allow-
K
to handle rugged environments and is IP65-sealed
ing storage that’s two
and maintenance-free. In addition,
or more pallets deep.
Raymond’s user interface offers the
Flared drive-in support
operator a visual representation of the
rails help forklift drivers
battery’s charge state.
enter the pallet rack by
The Raymond Model 8250 AC walkie
guiding the pallet into
pallet truck with Li-ion battery pack is
the bay. A drive-in pallet
also available in a standard configura-
rack system uses the same entry and exit point for each storage
tion of 24-volt, 78 ampere-hour light
bay, providing last-in, first-out (LIFO) access. A drive-through
EV battery pack. (The Raymond Corp.,
pallet rack system is loaded on one side and unloaded from the
www.raymond-
other for first-in, first-out flow (FIFO).
corp.com)
Because they are often used in high turnover areas and
operated in close proximity to forklift traffic, drive-in and drive-through racks are subject to greater wear and tear than other
rack structures. Steel King’s drive-in rack system is engineered
Forklift simulator: Industrial virtual reality (VR) company
and manufactured to stand up to this wear and tear, the com-
PlayWerk, creator of Forklift-Simulator, has expanded its prod-
pany says.
uct line with a VR reach-truck simulator. The new offering
Steel King’s drive-in racking features unlimited storage depth
is designed to train drivers on the specific skills needed for
and is ideal for high-traffic and cooler/freezer installations,
reach-truck operation, which typically involve the high vertical
according to the manufacturer. In addition, Steel King offers an
stacking of pallets in warehouses with narrow aisles (think
optional offset leg design for easier handling of pallets.
e-commerce and third-party logistics operations). Training and
The racking’s welded frame construction delivers high rigid-
honing reach-truck skills in VR can reduce safety concerns and
ity and strength, while other optional features, like protective
boost employee confidence, the company says. (Play Werk, www.
railings and seismic-safe designs, deliver safety and stability in
play-werk.com)
demanding applications. (Steel King, www.steelking.com)
