The construction materials supply chain is incredibly diverse. Yet whether you’re handling bricks, blocks, glass, precast, tiles, cement, aggregates, or any other building materials, your manufacturing or logistics operation is no doubt up against common challenges that require tough solutions.
Here are three common challenges encountered in building materials applications using lift trucks, and how Hyster can help deal with them.
1. Tough environments
Building materials operations often require materials handling in rugged, dirty, and tough environments with poor ground conditions. Exposure to these difficult conditions typically pushes equipment to its limits. Dust and dirt can result in wear to certain lift truck parts and components.
The H2.0-3.5A Hyster® A Series forklifts feature sealed electrical connectors to help manage this but selecting oil-immersed brakes, tilt cylinder boots, and mud guards may provide some applications with additional support. Heavy-duty air intake can also help reduce service intervention requirements.
Where debris is an issue, on-demand cooling includes a reversing fan feature to blow debris out of the engine bay, helping to minimise radiator and engine bay cleaning. Debris on the floor can also be tackled by choosing a belly screen option and string cutter, helping to optimise uptime.
The optional maintenance-free Dynamic Stability System (DSS) can also be selected with Hyster A Series lift trucks which may help certain applications to reduce the likelihood of tip overs. With DSS operators are reminded of safe operating practices with audible and visual alerts when potentially unsafe conditions are detected.
Hyster electric forklifts, available as both three wheel and four wheel options, are also tough enough even for rugged building materials applications. What’s more, they eliminate exhaust emissions and improve air quality, have fewer moving parts, require less maintenance, produce less noise, and generate lower levels of heat, all of which help these trucks cope well in dusty environments.
2. Awareness in the yard
In tough construction materials handling applications, which may be cluttered and untidy, operator safety inside and outside the cab is often a priority. As is the safety of those working near them. Solutions from Hyster can help operations with a focus on forklift safety, even in the harshest and most demanding industrial operations.
Hyster lift trucks are designed with safety in mind, and both visibility and durability are a priority. However, depending on specific application needs, operator assistance systems may be useful.
Hyster offers special features enabling customers to configure Hyster trucks to meet application-specific requirements. Operator assistance features available on Hyster lift trucks include pedestrian awareness lights, reverse speed system, cameras, sensors and the Hyster Tracker telematics system.
Hyster Tracker can track training updates, pre-shift inspections and provides impact monitoring, alerts, and incident data to support efforts to improve operator accountability and route optimisation around the yard.
3. Valuable, varied loads
Building materials can vary significantly in size shape, weight, and material. Inefficient handling with a lift truck can lead to damaging valuable loads of building materials. This not only leads to slower operations but reduced profits, while also putting company reputation at risk.
Hyster 4 - 5.5 tonne forklifts can provide versatility and performance, with a balance of reduced fuel consumption and greater power. This helps busy construction materials applications to move more loads but benefit from low maintenance and replacement part costs.
To support efficient handling of heavier and challenging loads, high capacity, heavy duty Hyster forklifts are compatible with a wide range of specialist attachments that are quick and easy to change, supporting efficiency and damage avoidance.
Hyster Tracker wireless asset management can also help drive overall fleet efficiency and identify under- and over-utilisation of trucks so the correct equipment is matched with the correct handling tasks. With fleet monitoring, it can also improve operator performance. Together this can help lower overall handling costs for construction materials applications.
What’s your challenge?
These are just a few of the Hyster solutions for tough applications handling building materials.
Contact an expert to discuss the challenges in your particular operation or consult your local Hyster dealer for advice.
