WhoshouldIsee Tracks

Windsor Materials Handling appoints 11 new apprentices as part of strategic investment into development and growth

Windsor Materials Handling has been using the apprenticeship scheme for over three decades to attract fresh talent and motivated individuals who are eager to learn and contribute as engineers to the business with our longest serving engineer joining through the scheme over 36 years ago.

Hiring apprentices has always been embedded within the ethos of the business and is seen to be a long-term investment. By providing structured training and hands-on experience, we are able to develop a skilled workforce that understands the company’s processes, culture, and values who in turn become loyal employees that are more likely to stay with the business and contribute to its growth.

With there being no guarantee that the current skills shortage in the engineering and manufacturing industry will come to an end any time soon, the best way of securing our business’s long-term success over the years has been to attract our own apprentices. 

To that end, we have been holding a series of open days at our branches across the country over the last month in an effort to recruit which has resulted in 11 of the 15 available apprenticeships being offered to young individuals within the communities of our branch network.

Having risen through the ranks following a time served engineering apprenticeship himself, long-serving employee and Senior Service and Operations Manager, Martin Brader who has been heavily involved in the recruitment process this year says; “Anyone involved in the UK’s engineering and manufacturing sector will be well aware that it is an industry in the midst of a serious skills shortage. Without a pool of top-quality talent to choose from, many businesses like our own are struggling to expand after being unable to find the right calibre of employee to suit their requirements.”

“We recognise that there is often a shortage of skilled engineers in our industry so by offering apprenticeships, we can actively contribute to closing the skills gap by equipping individuals with the necessary expertise. This helps address future talent shortages while building a pipeline of skilled professionals within the organisation.”

“Part of the concern for many organisations is retention once apprentices qualify which is why we have invested in a tiered salary and development structure which helps our recruits to understand the earning potential and career progression opportunities that are available to them should they remain in the business. This is a strategy that we have implemented to help ensure we keep apprentices engaged and motivated throughout their course and into their employment as an engineer.”

As a business, our aim is to have a positive impact within our communities in every aspect of what we do. That includes how we recruit into our business and it is important to emphasise the real-life career opportunities that apprenticeships hold.

Ian Stone says “Innovations within the industry have gradually transformed what it means to be an engineer, from a trade that was once heavily mechanical to one today that is much more technical and definitely varied. Since starting as apprentice in 1984 the job has continually evolved keeping the role interesting and fresh, particularly in recent years with the shift to electric equipment which utilises the same technology as the electric cars we see on the roads today.”

“The tools of our trade maybe materials handling equipment, but it’s the way we approach issues, implementing the right product mix for the right application, and the work we do with specifiers, that is key to our success. Working with major brands within industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, timber and construction, we are an integral part of the manufacturing and distribution process so ensuring that our customers operations are running without problems is vital to their success to deliver.”

“At Windsor, we maintain a philosophy of continual investment in people to help ensure our strong reputation for personal customer support is maintained. We always seek to develop and nurture long term and valued relationships to enable our customers to succeed.”

Leading the Lithium Revolution

WHOLLY-OWNED Windsor Materials Handling subsidiary Lithium Battery Solutions has launched a two-pronged approach to bring nuance to the lithium revolution.

Managing director Stephen Burton talks about the concept which aims to transform the markets mindset when considering their transition to electric, which he believes will make lithium power accessible to new applications, as well as making the retrofit of lithium power to existing forklifts easier and less expensive.

UN Forklift

Stephen says: “The typical three tonne electric truck is not a yard truck, they are made for indoors, they don’t have the suspension and are too rigid in their chassis, so that’s a non-starter for many applications, such as builder’s merchants, which is why we brought the UN Forklift range into play.”

The core offering that Lithium Battery Solutions brings to market is the new NL series lithium battery forklift, capacity from 2.0T to 3.5T counterbalance which boast an IC truck chassis with a floating cab, that takes on yard work with operator comfort in mind. For ease of operation, the charging socket is mounted on left hand side of the truck, making it easy to place on charge upon dismount, and removing the requirement to lift the bonnet to place on charge like traditional electric counterbalance trucks.

In our opinion, if you’re operating counterbalance trucks below 8 tonnes, you’re unlikely to opt for diesel unless you really have to. This makes the UN NL series a real contender for us – you are getting the cost and maintenance benefits of an electric truck, without having to compromise on the performance that you’d get from an IC truck. This makes it an easy transition for operators making the switch to lithium.”

For traditional IC truck users, moving to lead-acid battery trucks is arguably a bigger change, as it involves battery maintenance. They must be refilled regularly with distilled water to function properly and stay healthy, which in turn brings added implication to health and safety procedures.

“Typically, switching to lithium is a change of mindset for a diesel counterbalance user,” says Stephen. “Whereas you can get on a lithium UN truck and it will feel very similar in its setup – and we can adjust the programme settings so it operates like a hydrostat or like a traditional torque convertor IC truck which gives the operator a like-for-like drive.”

Users can get up to 5 hours run time out of a single charge of the UN truck, however longer run times are expected from the soon to be launched 5 tonne range.

So which users would be most suited to this twist on the lithium forklift?

“Builder’s merchants are absolutely primed for this,” says Stephen. “Applications tend to be up to 20-25 hours per week, where the user needs the availability. For a lot of the independent builder’s merchants it’s all about quick delivery, they’ve got to keep their customer service levels going and this truck enables them to do that.

“Our advice is, if it’s idle, charge it, you can get 10% charge in 20 minutes, and a full charge in two hours. You’re getting opportunity charging with maintenance free batterie. We describe it as hassle free motoring.”

The price point of the UN Forklift is competitively placed and is not dissimilar to that of an IC truck, but it is the total cost of ownership savings that are turning heads of our customers, not to mention that the cost of electricity is around 20% that of diesel.

Lithium batteries

The second lithium innovation is focused on the retrofit of lithium batteries to existing forklifts.

Stephen explains: “The BSLBATT range of batteries that we are bringing to market is proving to be a game changer for our customers. We can fit lithium batteries to any manufacturer’s truck, which could be anything from a walk behind powered pallet truck to VNA man-up machines, providing unchallenged run-times.

There are two types of battery on offer: a water-based cell, which is suitable for cold stores; as well as an oil-based cell. The chemistry used is Lithium Iron Phosphate – known as LiFePO 4. – rather than NMC. 

“We work closely with the factory to design and build our own batteries to fit inside the trucks and do all the aftermarket modifications to suit any solution. Currently, we don’t work with the CANbus on the trucks, it’s all done via our separate BMS, so we can monitor remotely and keep abreast of utilisation,” says Stephen.

“A lead-acid battery has 1,500 cycles, and if you discharge by 20%, that is considered a cycle. With lithium, if you discharge by 20%, you still have 80% usage without impacting performance. You’re getting double in terms of battery lifetime, and despite people sometimes worrying about how to dispose of the batteries once they are no longer fit for use, we’re aligned to a secondary market in uninterruptible supply systems (UPS).”

“Within the market there is an undoubtable belief that lithium is a dangerous, flammable product with dangerously high voltage which is a challenge we have come across when pitching recommendations to customers” adds Stephen. 

“We’re going through an education process to demonstrate that LiFePo 4 is in fact, incredibly stable and has been through rigorous lab tests before entering the market. We have test data on all of our cells, including crush and nail tests and have consulted with the fire brigade on the treatment of a lithium battery fire which transpires is the same as for a lead-acid battery fire.”

That all said, there is still room for traditional lead-acid in some applications.

“I still struggle to see why in 24/7 applications reach trucks should be lithium-powered,” explains Stephen. “They hot shift, back-to-back, and I don’t believe there are many companies that have the time to opportunity charge them.

“One common mistake that we have identified is that when many people are considering the change to lithium is that is has to be either/or, we find we say to customers, this part of your fleet is suited to lead-acid, and for this part lithium will pay-off. This is where the consultancy approach comes in where we will run the operational calculations and work with customers to get the most efficient and cost effective solution for them.”

Lithium Battery Solutions is set up to run both the BSLBATT battery range and act as an importer for UN Forklift products. It is currently the exclusive UK importer and distributor for both.

Windsor Material Handling is a customer of Lithium Battery Solutions and a distributor for both product types, with Stephen also looking to go out to a select dealer network.

“We are approaching this part of the offering with great consideration, what we don’t want to do is flood the market and find ourselves in a situation with multiple dealers quoting customers on the same product which is frustrating for all parties,” he says.

Sustainability

As well as costs, sustainability is a key part of the drive to lithium. Companies are going to have to meet environmental standards to get accepted on to tenders.

“Many sustainability measures that would not have flown just a few years ago are now top of the agenda for many businesses.

“To assist customers on this journey, we have a strategic partner, Axiom Sustainability, which provides ESG reporting and sustainability software that helps with attaining Scope 1, 2 and 3. The software is a platform that provides organisations with the visibility required to support their sustainability journey, with Scope 3 being the most challenging to achieve as you’re effectively impacting the entire supply chain.

“This last 12 months particularly has shown that the drive in becoming Net Zero by 2030 is not going away and we have a responsibility within the supply chain, that we are all trying to affect, to offer products that help a customer’s move to becoming carbon neutral, as well as making operations the most efficient and cost-effective that they can be.”

Growing North-West presence with expansion to new Leigh branch and recruitment drive for engineers

St Helens is building on 12 years of success in the north-west by increasing space in move to larger purpose-built premises in Leigh.

The move follows continued growth in their customer base since moving to the St Helens premises in May 2010 and offers state of the art 2,000 sqft office space adjoined to a 2,675 sqft workshop unit for increasing new and used stock levels.

As part of the move, branch manager Tommy Haddock announces that the new Leigh branch are currently recruiting for a number of experienced engineers to grow its service and maintenance team – a team who over the years have grown an impressive portfolio of business. They are also looking to bring in a number of apprentices, as part of the company’s overall commitment to investing in young people within local communities.

It has encouraged a time for reflection on how the branch – which was a strategic move for the Windsor Materials Handling UK network – has grown from a modest team of six to 17 today with plans to increase that number further.

Customers include Regency Glass, Baker Hughes, Eddie Stobbart and local company Comfy Quilts who in the time of working together have grown from a single site to an impressive four site operation, with the St Helens branch partnering with them on their materials handling requirements and solutions throughout.

Tommy stresses that their success is down to a collective approach to working together and that no single person is responsible for the overall growth – it’s been a determination held by all that has brought them to where they are today.

Managing Director Jonathan Burton who has played a crucial role in the development project says: “We believe there is now a better than ever opportunity for us to expand our presence in the north-west – a key location for Windsor Materials Handling – with a state-of-the-art workplace to complement the excellent, long-established team we have developed at St Helens.”

He goes onto say: “The branch has established a reputation for its industry-leading ability in materials handling solutions, servicing hundreds of customers in its time of operating. The team have been recognised and respected for their success through recent customer feedback which is testament to their commitment in making the branch the success story that it is. It is the perfect time to build on the solid foundations that have been laid.”

At Windsor, our aim is to provide the best quality local service on a national level. We maintain a philosophy of continual investment to help ensure our strong reputation for personal customer support is maintained and always seek to develop and nurture long term and valued customer relationships to enable our customers to succeed.

Availability of apprenticeships ahead of September intake

Further strengthening our role in the sector in developing young engineers, Windsor has a long-standing commitment to recruiting local talent and up-skilling through training and apprenticeships. It’s crucial that we as a business encourage the uptake of vital trades, such as engineering, and as such we’re pleased to have offered a number of apprentices’ roles across the country out of the 21 being advertised, offering great opportunity and a chance to progress successful careers from a young age.

Investing In Our Communities

Managing Director Jonathan Burton says; “Our aim is to have a positive impact within our communities in every aspect of what we do. That includes how we recruit into our business which is now 105 engineers strong, 12% of which are currently on a training apprenticeship and our plan is to grow that to 20% in 2022.”

“Apprenticeship schemes are a productive and effective way to grow and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workplace and we’re delighted to be announcing a drive to place a further 21 roles this year, delivering on our commitments to provide opportunities to young people nationwide.”

The three-year apprenticeships are run in partnership with F-TEC, a dedicated training facility that offers an extensive range of forklift engineering programmes and support our apprentices throughout their training; teaching new skills, mentoring and helping them forge fulfilling careers.

Karl Baum of F-TEC says, “Our partnership with Windsor Materials Handling has helped a number of next-generation engineers get the training they require through the apprenticeship scheme. Windsor Materials Handling have sourced many of their own engineers from the apprentices they have taken on, which is a testament to the quality of the candidates upon completion of their apprenticeship. We look forward to the next intake this year and are proud to be working with Windsor Materials Handling to help close the skills gap faced by our industry.”

Career Pathways

As a business, it’s important for us to emphasise the real-life career opportunities that apprenticeships hold. We have members of the service and maintenance team who joined Windsor with a real vision to develop a career in engineering and were attracted by the potential to earn developing an appliable skillset. Whilst initially the wages seem low compared to jobs that don’t require experience nor provide training to learn a trade, they always had mind the earning potential you have when you qualify and Windsor support that ambition throughout.

One of our longest standing employees, Ian Stone, has almost 40 years of service as an engineer at Windsor and remains on his tools today.

Ian Stone says “Innovations within the industry have gradually transformed what it means to be an engineer, from a trade that was once heavily mechanical to one today that is much more technical and definitely varied. Since starting as apprentice in 1984 the job has continually evolved keeping the role interesting and fresh, particularly in recent years with the shift to electric equipment which utilises the same technology as the electric cars we see on the roads today.”

“The tools of our trade maybe materials handling equipment, but it’s the way we approach issues, implementing the right product mix for the right application, and the work we do with specifiers, that is key to our success. Working with major brands within industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, timber and construction, we are an integral part of the manufacturing and distribution process so ensuring that our customers operations are running without problems is vital to their success to deliver.”

“At Windsor, we maintain a philosophy of continual investment in people to help ensure our strong reputation for personal customer support is maintained. We always seek to develop and nurture long term and valued relationships to enable our customers to succeed.”

Current Opportunities

Windsor Materials Handling are delighted to continue their investment into the industry through the development of young talent and are pleased to announce that they are looking to recruit a further 14 engineering apprentices across our national branch network to add to the 25 already on its team.

For more information or to apply, please visit our careers page.

Are you ready for the April 1st 2022 fuel duty changes?

Inevitably, conversations with our existing and prospective customers have involved the impact of the rule change of rebated red diesel duty and biofuels that came into effect on 1st April 2022, where industries affected are having to switch to more expensive alternatives.

The move is designed to help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero carbon target by reducing commercial reliance on fossil fuels, forcing great pressure on businesses to ensure that sustainability is at the top of their strategic priorities.

We’ve been working with several of our customers for some time now in providing full support to help streamline their fuel transition to meet their business objectives, whether they be driven by cost implications or environmental factors, with many looking towards our electric forklift ranges for the first time.

Cost implications 

One of the main implications of the change in legislation will be the imposition of additional costs associated with the purchase, storage and security of white diesel. From 1st April 2022, machines supplied by Windsor Engineering (Hull) Limited will be supplied to customers with white diesel at a tracked market rate, the cost of diesel will be reviewed on a weekly basis and will be adjusted accordingly. 

The cost benefit for using diesel machines over electric, combined with the convenience of refuelling, meant it has long been the UK’s preferred choice, but that has changed significantly. Complicated engine management systems designed to reduce emissions has made the investment into diesel trucks on a par, and in some cases, more expensive than that of their electric equivalent. Add to this the lower total lifetime costs and the benefits on environmental impact, the case is clear.

This has expedited discussions around the ‘shift to electric’ and Windsor is in an advantageous position to advise on a range of battery solutions. Undoubtedly, one of the stumbling blocks in the uptake of electric has been shift length and re-charging. The battery type that works best depends on individual requirements, work cycles and environmental challenges which is where customers are seeing real benefit from working with us – they want to know that they can trust that the solution being recommended is bespoke to their needs and that it makes commercial sense.

We continue to champion ways to utilise lithium battery and intelligent charger technology, to improve productivity without the increase in cost or harm to the environment, and have seen that this is a crucial component of the way in which the market is moving.

In fact, we remain confident that there are many opportunities for businesses to take advantage of new technologies to rebalance their operations and move forward with highly knowledgeable assistance from Windsor.

When Things Go Wrong

From Imran Khan to £700,000 fines – how the law has transformed the way we work at height & why cutting corners makes injuries inevitable.

Cages, or to give them their official name, non-integrated platforms, were often used with forklifts to allow workers to stand on the forklift and perform simple tasks. But after a spate of accidents and injury compensation claims, it was clear that they posed a considerable safety hazard, and the HSE released guidance prohibiting the use of forklift cages where more suitable equipment is available.

Now, purpose-built Mobile Elevating Working Platforms (MEWPs) make the cage a relic of the past. Businesses have warmed to the idea that forklift trucks are intended for lifting materials, not people, whilst MEWPs are obviously designed specifically for aerial access.

MEWP Safety

Access equipment, while considered far safer than cages due to their fully integrated controls, can still be dangerous. That became clear to a crowd in 2013, when Imran Khan, the former cricketer and one of Pakistan’s most popular politicians, was taken to hospital after falling around 15ft from a platform lift as it carried him on to a stage for an election rally.

Khan had to have stitches but escaped serious injury. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case in these types of accidents. In March 2017, a home appliance manufacturer was fined £700,000 after a self-employed contractor fell from a MEWP and later died from his injuries.

Two years prior, the contractor had been working at a height of nearly five metres installing fire detection equipment. At the same time, maintenance workers started an overhead conveyor unaware that the contractor was working nearby. The movement caused the MEWP to tip over and the 66-year-old man fell to the factory floor. He later died from his injuries.

A HSE investigation found there was no effective control or supervision in place to prevent the conflicting work tasks from being undertaken at the same time. It is simple miscommunication like this that can result in the tragic incident of a worker’s death, along with a crippling fine.

But you don’t need to have an accident to be fined. The HSE can investigate a business where it suspects workers are at risk of harm, without there having already been such an incident.

Prevention is Primary

An Essex construction company found this out to their cost, being fined for putting workers at risk after neglecting to check and maintain a potentially dangerous piece of lifting equipment. Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard that a forklift truck in heavy use went more than 12 months without any kind of thorough examination, despite it being a legal requirement to do so at least once a year.

The truck, used to move heavy steel fabrications, was kept in continuous use and showing obvious signs of disrepair. An investigation by the HSE found that when the truck was eventually examined, only six items out of 24 that formed the basis of the report were marked “satisfactory”. The remaining 18 items were classed as “repair needed”. Amazingly, defects included worn out tyres, flashing beacons and lamps not working and a loose counter-weight. Charges were made of breaches of the Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The result was a fine of £3,000 plus £3,238 in costs.

HSE inspector, Keith Waller, explained: “All machinery must be maintained regularly to ensure it is safe to work with and be near. It is not enough to rely on reactive maintenance and only fix things when they go wrong; companies should be looking for signs of wear and tear before any deterioration leads to an incident. HSE will not hesitate to prosecute when companies neglect their equipment and put workers and others at risk.”

Even without an accident then, forklift users should ensure their equipment is well maintained. That’s even more important for access platforms, where inspections should be carried out at least twice a year.

If you’re unsure about the safety of your forklift of aerial access equipment, please get in touch. We offer free no-obligation advice regarding LOLER and PUWER safety regulations to any business operating lifting or access equipment.

Damage Control

Some businesses believe their products are destined to be damaged during the materials handling process. Whether its paper, cardboard or even flat-pack furniture – delivering goods in anything less than pristine condition can increase the risk of disappointed customers.

“When we buy anything, we are much less likely to choose to buy a product in a box that appears damaged,” says Windsor Branch Manager, David Fletcher. “People associate a damaged box with a something that hasn’t been handled appropriately, and come to the conclusion that the product is more likely to be damaged too.”

The truth of the matter is, boxes can be very easily damaged by all sorts of factors in a warehouse environment, and it doesn’t mean the product is any less usable. “Overhanging loads inevitably come into contact with the forklift’s load guard, and as a result the cardboard box is damaged,” adds David. “In an ideal word, products should leave the distribution centre with no evidence of being handled by a forklift truck.”

That’s why many businesses have load protection installed on their materials handling equipment. Not only does it prevent the load from getting damaged, but machinery, operators and infrastructure are protected too.

Companies like IKEA and corrugated cardboard manufacturers use these shock absorbers to ensure their products come away from the warehouse unscathed. Ultimately, this reduces the amount of product that is wasted due to damage.

Load protectors come in many forms – foam or flexible fibre bristles protect the load while attached to MHE by magnetism or steel clamps. “There’s a shock absorber to suit ever kind of load protection need,” concludes David Fletcher. “A small investment in load protectors for the forklift trucks on site can yield a big return in reducing wastage due to product damage.”

The Five ‘Rights’ to Cutting MHE Costs

1. The Right Power
If you are currently using a particular fuel type, changing to an alternative could save you more than you think. Electric forklift trucks are much more environmentally friendly compared to diesel and LPG. As well as being fume free, they are also known for their quiet and manoeuvrable nature. While they are considerably cheaper to power, the forklift battery and charger can bring the initial cost higher than a diesel or LPG powered truck, but this hasn’t stopped many businesses reaping the benefits of electric trucks. They are best-placed in operations that have the time and space to allow for recharging the forklift batteries.

However, when it comes to which forklift truck is more cost efficient, it seems there are pros and cons to all. Which is best suited for your operation ultimately depends on the environment, the usage and any special requirements – contact your local branch for help in finding the right fuel for your fleet.

2. The Right Supply
It’s surprising, but true, that some manufacturers provide an ‘approximate’ supply of goods. For example, the brewing industry doesn’t sell its beer in pints, it sells them in barrels, which could contain more, or less, than the 22 gallons the landlord expects. Matches too come in boxes marked ‘contains between 90-100’ and there’s similar approximate measures in many bulk industries. When something says 90-100, you can be sure that it closer to 90 than 100. A set of weighing scales can provide valuable insight on suppliers of items like paper rolls. If they’re consistently light, as has been known to happen, users are able to re-negotiate their supply on the basis that ‘more or less’ usually means less.

3. The Right Size
It’s usually the case that the bigger the fleet, the bigger the potential saving. In our experience fleet utilisation can often be around 20-30%. That means you’re paying 70% too much! Adding fleet utilisation systems to your fleet allows you to put hard facts in the place of guess work and anecdotal evidence. It may seem obvious, but if you’re lifting heavy stuff, you need bigger, larger capacity trucks to do the job. Conversely, you don’t want a truck that’s too big if you’re not lifting very much. Not having to buy a more expensive, larger capacity truck saves money if you’re not lifting large loads. Let your local Windsor branch know if you think you’ve previously over-invested.

4. The Right Staff
Training may substantially lower operating costs. Although it is a legal requirement for operators to be trained on equipment, making sure they are trained to higher standards can also cut costs. Well trained drivers know the ins and outs of their vehicles and are more aware of obstacles around the site. This tends to mean that they cause fewer accidents because they are more aware and more informed with how to use their vehicle. Studies show that this means that they are in less accidents. If they are indeed having fewer, there are lower costs for the repair of equipment and fewer costs relating to damaged building infrastructure and accidental equipment damage. Ask Windsor about their dual-accredited operator training centre.

5. The Right Parts
Save on every part by shopping around. Knowing which suppliers to choose to supply the right parts is vital when cutting your costs. It may be one supplier can get the parts you need for a much cheaper price than your current supplier as they may have more access to the parts at a cheaper agreed price. Windsor can supply parts for almost all makes and models of forklift trucks, access platforms and warehouse equipment carrying over 90% of line items in stock. Their branches have daily replenishments of stock and their parts prices are highly competitive. Furthermore, if Windsor does not have the part in stock, they can obtain them from their established supply agreements, which mean they can be available within 24 hours.

The heat is on in Hull

The future of renewable energy for materials handling

Siemens’ £160m wind turbine factory in Hull has brought significant investment in the wind energy sector to the region. Does it signal the beginning of the end for fossil fuels? And what does it mean for the logistics industry?

It is now completely ordinary to see panels on your neighbours’ roof soaking up solar energy, just as we are getting used to looking out to sea and seeing a wind farm on the horizon. This is likely to be due, in part, to high profile figures making pledges to use more renewable energy sources and encouraging the population to follow suit.

Many big brands have recently been promising that by 2025, 100% of purchased electricity will come from renewable sources. Giant beer producer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, has said that in eight years your cold Budweiser, Stella Artois or Corona will be made with renewable energy, such as wind or solar power.

By doing so they will reduce their carbon footprint by 30% – equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road! Coca Cola and IKEA are among the other companies pledging to go 100% renewable.

Hydrogen fuel cells

While businesses across the globe are being urged to reduce their usage of fossil fuels and look for alternative ways of using energy, the closest the materials handling industry has come to a green source of energy is the use of hydrogen fuel cells to power forklifts.

It was recently announced that South Africa are to make more hydrogen fuel cell forklifts in a bid to use clean energy, but although there’s a lot of hydrogen on the surface of the planet, most of it exists in chemical compounds such as crude oil and water. This means that in order to produce enough to power the world’s vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells need to be produced industrially, a process that means as much as 95% of hydrogen would be produced by burning fossil fuels. Still, there a number of not-so-popular methods that could be the future of renewable energy to help power forklifts as well as the rest of the globe.

Best Foot Forward

Piezoelectricity is a method of producing energy from pressure. Pioneering companies such as PaveGen are using this concept in floor tiles, so that people walking around or dancing produce enough electricity to run the shopping centre or nightclub they are in. Each PaveGen floor tile is equipped with a wireless API that transmits real-time movement data analytics, whilst directly producing power when and where it is needed. As pedestrians walk across the system, the weight from their footsteps causes generators to vertically displace, resulting in the radial motion creating energy through electro-magnetic induction. A nightclub in Rotterdam is making use of this technology too, but electric dance moves don’t come cheap, the club’s 270-square-foot floor cost around $257,000!

Body Heat

Stockholm’s Central Station is making use of those sweaty rush hours and conserving body heat to warm an office block not far from the station. The Central Station’s ventilation system is fitted with heat exchangers, allowing the excess body heat to be converted to hot water before being pushed into the building’s heating system. As well as being a green renewable energy source, the system has lowered the energy bill by as much as 25% for the office block.

Nevertheless, it has been said that the system works well in Sweden due to their cold winters, and the cost and benefits can depend on the climate as well as the price of energy.

Transistor Breakthough

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have recently discovered a new transistor design that could mean ultra-low power applications such as wearable devices and implantable electronics no longer need to be powered by batteries.

The new design uses a similar method to a computer in sleep mode, using a tiny ‘leak’of electrical current to function. Compared to water dripping from a faulty tap, the current is formed from contact between the metal and semiconducting components of a transistor, a characteristic that engineers usually try to avoid. Although transistors have had this ability for years, this is the first time the current has been effectively captured and used practically.

Drawing energy from an AA battery based on this design, it has been said, would make it last for a billion years.

Methane Cow Backpacks

According to the UN, 18% of the total release of greenhouse gases is down to agriculture, and cattle are a big contributor to this number. Methane is 23 times more harmful to the environment than CO2, and one cow releases 70 to 120 kgs of methane on average per year. With 1.5 billion of them around the globe, that’s a lot of harmful greenhouse gas. Researchers in Argentina have developed a backpack that collects the cow methane, purifying and compressing it for use in generating electricity.

Try not to get too excited though, while it might sound like ‘cowpower’ is the newest form of renewable energy, it’s still just in the concept stage.

What it all means for MHE…

The piezoelectricity and body heat concepts may not be ideal to power materials handling equipment, but if busy facilities started to harvest the energy from pressure and warmth produced by the employees, it’s possible businesses could be saving money while protecting the planet from green-house gases in the future.

It is somewhat unlikely we’ll see the next generation of forklift trucks being powered by tiny electrical current leaks or cow emissions. What we can say is that the direction of travel appears to be well established, if not for the planet’s sake, then for cost, health and security of energy supply reasons. What’s more the renewable energy activities in Hull together with these new discoveries pave the way for new research projects that might one day provide a green source of energy powerful enough to fuel forklifts and distribution centres worldwide. In the meantime, Windsor Hull can offer advice on equipment with low emissions and other energy-saving benefits.

[Featured image credit: www.siemens.com/press]

Five proven ways to keep a grip on your MHE costs

1. Get the Right Power

Could switching to electric save over 30% per annum? Despite the current trend for LPG, electric power and diesel still remain popular forms of operating forklift trucks. However, when it comes to which forklift truck is more cost efficient, it seems there are pros and cons to all. The annual operating costs (rental, maintenance & fuel) for an average 2.0 tonne capacity model differs depending on the fuel type; electric and diesel costing around £6.5K a year and LPG nearing the £8.5K mark, so it may seem cheaper to go for electric or diesel. Electric trucks are generally more expensive to buy than diesel and LPG trucks and, depending on the life span of the truck, may require double the batteries. LPG on the other hand is cheaper in bulk, but susceptible to price rises. Diesel trucks can be run on DERV (red diesel) which is the cheapest fuel on the market but illegal for use in trucks travelling on the road. In switching to electric you may be buying a more expensive piece of kit, but paying up to 38% less in fuel.

2. Weigh up your suppliers
It’s surprising, but true, that some manufacturers provide an ‘approximate’ supply of goods. For example, the brewing industry doesn’t sell its beer in pints, it sells them in barrels, which could contain more, or less, than the 22 gallons the landlord expects. Matches too come in boxes marked ‘contains between 90-100’ and there’s similar approximate measures in many bulk industries. When something says 90-100, you can be sure that it closer to 90 than 100. A set of weighing scales can provide valuable insight on suppliers of items like paper rolls. If they’re consistently light, as has been known to happen, users are able to re-negotiate their supply on the basis that ‘more or less’ usually means less.

3. Know your fleet
It’s usually the case that the bigger the fleet, the bigger the potential saving. In our experience fleet utilisation can often be around 20-30%. That means you’re paying 70% too much! Adding fleet utilisation systems to your fleet allows you to put hard facts in the place of guess work and anecdotal evidence.
It may seem obvious, but If you’re lifting heavy stuff, you need bigger, larger capacity trucks to do the job. Conversely, you don’t want a truck that’s too big if you’re not lifting very much. Not having to buy a more expensive, larger capacity truck saves money if you’re not lifting large loads.

4. Train your operators
Training may substantially lower operating costs. Although it is a legal requirement for operators to be trained on equipment, making sure they are trained to higher standards can cut also costs. Well trained drivers, know the ins and outs of their vehicles and are more aware of obstacles around the site. This tends to mean that they cause fewer accidents because they are more aware and more informed with how to use their vehicle. Studies show that this means that they are in less accidents. If they are indeed having fewer, there are lower costs for the repair of equipment and fewer costs relating to damaged building infrastructure and accidental equipment damage.

5. Smart parts provision
Save on every part by shopping around. Knowing which suppliers to choose to supply the right parts is vital when cutting your costs. It may be one supplier can get the parts you need for a much cheaper price than your current supplier as they may have more access to the parts at a cheaper agreed price. Windsor can supply parts for almost all makes and models of forklift trucks, access platforms and warehouse equipment carrying over 90% of line items in stock. Their branches have daily replenishments of stock and their parts prices are highly competitive. Furthermore, if Windsor does not have the part in stock, they can obtain them from their established supply agreements, which mean they can be available within 24 hours.

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