MATERIALS HANDLING APRIL 2019
CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
Automation, fl exibility and comfort are three of the key considerations when
purchasing forklift trucks. Here, we look at the latest developments in the market
Doosan launches B15R-7 Series
Hubtex focuses on automation
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Doosan has launched a versatile new range of three-wheel electric
counterbalance forklift trucks, the B15R-7 Series.
With three new models covering a capacity range from 1.25-1.6
tonne, the compact and versatile B15R-7 Series is particularly wellsuited
to the fl exible needs of the small business – and being battery
powered provides the clean handling performance demanded by the
Food & Drinks sector in particular.
As a tough all-rounder, durability for outside duty is assured with
a rugged rear-drive axle, IP65 rated Curtis controller and IP20 PAL
brushless AC motors – off ering maximum resilience to water and dust.
Also included as standard is Doosan’s industry leading sealed, oilcooled
disc brake system, which is virtually maintenance free and lasts
up to fi ve times longer when compared to conventional shoe brakes.
The sealed units protect against outside elements such as dirt, water
and grit, ensuring top-rate braking performance for enhanced safety
and increased productivity.
With a tight turning circle, smooth and responsive acceleration,
and a conveniently placed direction switch on the hydraulic control
lever for switching direction of travel quickly and easily, the all-round
performance of the B15R-7 Series promises a boost to productivity
inside or outside the warehouse. What’s more, when equipped with
the optional side ‘roll-in & roll-out’ battery facility, batteries can be
simply and eff ortlessly changed for multiple shift operations.
Safety is foremost in the design of the new B15R-7 Series.
Prominent safety features include: Anti Roll Back for preventing
accidental movement of the vehicle when stopped on a slope,
Automatic Speed Control that adjusts the travel speed for safer
cornering, and an Operator Sensing System that immobilises the truck
and locks all hydraulic functions when an operator leaves the cab.
Further important safety-enhancing design features included as
standard are: a newly designed overhead guard, an easily accessible
emergency stop button on the dashboard, LED lights and excellent
visibility through the mast.
into account.
comfort and to reduce fatigue,
with a fully adjustable premium
Grammer suspension seat as
visibility for safer manoeuvring
with greater awareness.
One of the most complex tasks in
the intralogistics sector is handling
long loads. That’s why vehicle
automation is a top priority
in the sector, and one that
Hubtex is focusing heavily on.
In the autumn of this year, the
company is set to showcase its
fi rst automated guided vehicle
(AGV) specifi cally designed for
handling long loads.
An increasing number of
companies from diverse sectors
are turning to driverless goods vehicles in a bid to make
warehouse processes more effi cient and economical. The aim is to
maintain a high supplier performance while contending with a lack
of skilled workers and increasing requirements in terms of quality and
speed of turnover. When it comes to handling long loads, there are,
as yet, no fully AGVs in which safety functions and drive kinematics
can be adjusted to the various loads and their resulting dimensions.
“One of the biggest challenges of automation is being able to
identify the centre of gravity of long and bulky loads so that they
can be retrieved and transported safely,” explains Frank Knurr, a sales
engineer at Hubtex who is responsible for expanding the company’s
portfolio of driverless goods vehicles. “Our electric multidirectional
sideloaders can already be automated gradually and individually, in
accordance with customer requirements.”
Hubtex uses a modular system design with automated functions
and assistance systems which can be integrated step-by-step into
series-production vehicles. For example, an automated rackpositioning
system directly navigates the operator to the correct
rack after the warehouse position has been entered. The Hubtex
Load Manager can also be integrated into electric multidirectional
sideloaders, ensuring that preprogrammed lifting heights can be
reached automatically. Using the assistance solutions, the partially
automated vehicles can already perform steering, driving and lifting
movements automatically. Hubtex integrates all systems into one
single platform. This means that the various solutions can still be
extended and combined with each other retroactively.
Hubtex will also shortly be unveiling its latest generation of
electric multidirectional sideloaders. The company consistently
focused on automation when designing the vehicle series: cable
runs and sensor positions have been planned in such a way that the
vehicle can be gradually automated.
The B15R-7 Series has been designed with ergonomics in mind –
taking safety, driver comfort, ease of
maintenance and productivity fully
The cab is designed for operator
standard, and excellent all-round
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