British design benefits stack up
Whilst many UK companies are looking to import cheaper machinery and components from overseas, Weston Handling Consultancy (WHC) is bucking the trend and bringing British design flair to the world of industrial trucks.
Although the company has produced RaSHCo and Weston Reel Trucks for almost a decade, in the past they have been designed around imported units that were then customised to carry Weston’s wide range of attachments. Developed in line with customer requirements, the new designs incorporate stylish looks, but with practical uses.
For example, Gull Wing doors are usually associated with high- end sports cars, but Weston uses them to create a feature that is both attractive and practical. Made of steel and hinged, (not plastic cowling, found on most pedestrian stackers), the doors open a full 180˚, giving engineers easy access to the electric and hydraulic components.
Another feature of the new trucks is their modular construction. Many standard pedestrian stacker trucks are built with the legs, mast and motor compartment base, fabricated as a single piece. Weston maintains this lacks flexibility and by making each section separately, additional sections can be added to increase the degree of counterbalance and reduce leg length, up to the point when the truck becomes a true counterbalance.