Put the operator first

Rushlift shows the value of consulting with clients and delivering solutions that ensure operator comfort and boost productivity

For nearly a decade,West Yorkshire-based sweet maker Pecan Deluxe Candy (Europe) has supplied major ice cream suppliers while operating on a site stretched across ten industrial units. This has produced a considerable challenge for the company's team of forklift operators who spend up to 90 per cent of their day shuttling goods outside.

While operators see this as an ideal arrangement when the sun is out, wet and miserable winter days take a toll on the company's fleet of trucks and - more importantly - on workforce morale.

"As you can imagine," explains stores and logistics manager Ernie Smithey, "working in uncomfortable, exposed trucks in the rain and snow left our drivers feeling down. And this could have a real impact on their productivity." Looking to boost staff morale and efficiency, Ernie turned to authorised Mitsubishi Forklifts dealer Rushlift. He continues: "The team there understood what was needed straight away.

They were very responsive and quickly delivered exactly what we were looking for."

Meeting customer priorities Business manager Tony Potocki of Rushlift says: "The customer's top three priorities for the new fleet were machine reliability, operator comfort and excellent service support. The trucks needed to be robust - in every type of weather - while keeping their operators comfortable, warm and dry. Having assessed the application thoroughly, we put together a package of trucks which met the needs of Pecan Deluxe and its workforce." The new fleet includes a versatile 1600kg capacity pedestrian power pallet truck which takes care of transporting loads over distances of up to 20 metres. It also includes four highly specified two tonne electric counterbalance trucks (FB20NT), which were designed to ensure the operator would not need to endure the elements while shuttling products outdoors.

Changes made to the counterbalance machines included a heated cabin which is said to improve operator comfort while delivering great all-round visibility.

Tony Potocki adds: "The electrics benefit from proven AC technology, which gives exceptionally powerful, controlled and efficient performance. Crucially, these workhorses deliver the same performance as an IC engine - without any of the polluting exhaust gases." Since the trucks' introduction, Pecan Deluxe's Smithey has noticed a positive change in his drivers and their productivity. He explains: "Our drivers are delighted with their new trucks, which are as comfortable as any armchair. They particularly love the ease of using ergonomic fingertip controls rather than leaning forward to move big, clunky levers. And thanks to an excellent package of support services from Rushlift our trucks stay in action - whatever the time, whatever the weather." "The one thing that most Mitsubishi forklifts share," adds Martyn Davies, regional manager of Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks UK, "is they could be in use anywhere across the globe, performing in every type of climate: from the sub-zero Siberian Tundra to the blazing heat of Equatorial Africa. Although UK weather isn't quite so extreme, our customers benefit from the all-weather reliability which is built into each and every model.

"What's more, our reliable products are backed up by expert service from friendly, local dealers in our UK Authorised Dealer network. Like Rushlift, each has been picked for its excellent reputation and high standards of customer care. Our dealers benefit from the full support of the global Mitsubishi organisation and its resources. This enables them to respond quickly to customers' day-to-day needs and provide a total support package that meets all of their requirements."