Faster and safer working methods are being realised by Harman Motive having installed new powered pedestrian stackers and pallet transport from Jungheinrich at its Bridgend manufacturing complex. Harman, which produces high quality speakers for the automotive industry, previously relied on the services of hand pallet trucks for moving goods in and around the main assembly lines.
Recognising that having to push/pull heavy loads around manually opened up the potential for accidents or injuries production supervisor Keith Rudge investigated alternative ways of overcoming the health and safety issues that arise using non-powered handling equipment. “What we particularly wanted was a machine that could not only eliminate the strain and effort of moving goods to and from different points, but could also double as a static lifter in and around various workstations,” he explains. “Jungheinrich’s swift machine proved to be just what we were looking for.”
As well as purchasing ten Swift EME powered pedestrian stackers, Harman’s new Jungheinrich fleet also includes two EJE powered pallet transporters, along with six TMXE static scissor lifts. These 18 machines collectively undertake all lifting and transporting functions along the main assembly and finishing lines at Harman Motive.
Main duties of the 1,000kg capacity Swift machines include delivering pallets from the stores to specific work stations, and the transport of components to either the finishing lines or finished goods area. The Swift machines also act as static lifters, as well as replenish workstations that are equipped with the TXME static scissor lift trucks.
With electro-hydraulic lift mechanism, the TXME trucks effectively allow production line operatives to fill or empty stillages and containers at the most ergonomic working height, without the former need of bending and stretching to carry out the task. Lifting or lowering to the most effective working height is simply accomplished using push button controls.
All heavy load handling tasks in the production area are carried out by the two EJE 20 powered pallet transporters, capable of moving 2,000kg loads at a maximum speed of 6km/h. These trucks feature a patented ramp lift function that provides added safety when transporting loads up and down the ramp that connects production with the finished goods and despatch warehouse. Harman’s fleet of Jungheinrich trucks also includes four man-up ETX Kombi-trucks – used for put away and retrieval duties in the despatch warehouse – and narrow aisle reach trucks that undertake pallet and handling duties in the racked raw materials warehouse.
