Better forklift visibility by design

Pedestrians are at risk in the warehouse and forklifts collisions, while not common, do happen. Forklifts don’t always have the best visibility, and sometimes forklift operators don’t know the pedestrian is there until is too late.

The JCB Teletruk differs from a conventional counterbalanced forklift in a number of ways but the most obvious is in its use of a telescopic boom mast in place of a front-mounted mast. 

The Teletruk employs the same forward reach boom technology that is a feature of JCB’s larger world leading telehandlers, which are used throughout the construction and agricultural sectors – except the boom is fitted to a small chassis with a rear counterweight.

By employing a side-mounted boom the Teletruk provides a level of forward visibility unrivalled by any conventional lift truck.

“The fact that forward visibility is unobstructed by a traditional fixed mast, means that the Teletruk operator has 360 degree visibility of both the load and the working environment,” says Paul Murray, JCB’s Teletruk general manager.

And, because the side-mounted telescopic boom can extend forwards and upwards, the Teletruk is capable of moving palletised loads to and from places that had always been unreachable using a conventional vertical mast forklift.

This versatility enables the Teletruk to deliver further significant on site safety benefits by reducing the number of forklift movements that are required to load and unload trailers in and around the loading bay or yard area.

Paul Murray says: “Loading and unloading a trailer with counterbalanced forklift trucks means that trucks have to manoeuvre around around both sides of the vehicle.

“However, thanks to the Teletruk’s unique telescopic reach, curtain sided trailers can be accessed from only one side – which not only means less outdoor space is required but on site safety is enhanced significantly because lift trucks no longer need to travel around the blind side of the lorry.”

In addition, all machines in the JCB Teletruk range are fitted with Load Motion Control. This patented JCB innovation alerts the operator when reaching full lift or reach capacity with a simple green, amber, red light system and will not allow a load to be used outside of the load capabilities of the machine, aiding the prevention of forward tip. 

Paul Murray adds: “Successful warehousing is all about maximising efficiency and productivity but those joint aims should never be achieved at the expense of safety. Safety and productivity are not mutually exclusive and the JCB Teletruk offers both safety and throughput benefits that companies simply cannot overlook.”

JCB will showcase models from the multi-award winning Teletruk range of telescopic lift trucks, including the newly launched JCB 30-19E – the first electric-powered machine in the Teletruk range – on its stand at IMHX 2019 (NEC, Birmingham, September 24-27).