Manoeuvrability & efficiency

The company was established more than 80 years ago and, still in family ownership, it is a leading player in its sector, well known for traditional products such as Olbas Oil, Kalms tablets and Jakemans sweets.

Warehouse Manager Allistair Clarke said: "The trucks’ width of just 1030mm makes them a more comfortable fit in the 1900mm aisles as well as in some areas that are even tighter, and the over articulation of more than 90⁰ offers better manoeuvrability and efficiency. It also gives more leeway when reversing, reducing the risk of damage to products and you can make slight adjustments position-wise when taking pallets out, which is particularly appreciated by new drivers.”

The trucks are used primarily inside for putting pallets of raw materials into the 6m high bays of racking which accommodate 1,900 pallet spaces. They then take them to the manufacturing, production, packaging and quality control areas when needed and handle finished products in the despatch area where they negotiate some very confined spaces. When working outdoors they cope well with the uneven areas and gradients by the rear entrance.

Driver preference played an important role in the choice of the Aisle-Masters, and Allistair remarks that the drivers were won over during trials. "They preferred the cab layout to other brands as it offers better visibility. Even drivers with little experience were quick to learn the ropes, which is testament to how easy they are to operate.”

The warehouse operates at around 85% capacity and with stock being delivered just-in- time, speedy handling is crucial, as is reliability. "We get all of this and more, such as long battery life and easy access for charging from our Aisle-Masters,” said Allistair, "we made the right choice.”