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Beatson Clark Improving Productivity with Yale Lp Gas Forklifts

Rotherham based glass manufacturer Beatson Clark says it has improved the productivity of its forklift truck fleet thanks to the service and support of Forkway Group, a key authorised dealer for Yale.

Beatson Clark manufactures glass packaging for the pharmaceutical, beverage and food industries and its furnaces are burning 24 hours a day. A reliable fleet of forklift trucks is essential to keep the production line running and Forkway’s Doncaster branch helped Beatson Clark determine that the ideal solution would be seven Yale Veracitor VX 3.5 tonne lpg forklift trucks fitted with fork positioners for double pallet handling.

The new trucks, which form part of Beatson Clark’s total fleet of 18 forklifts, have enabled the company to reduce the number of forklift trucks required for this application from nine to seven. Beatson Clark’s purchasing manager Jonathan Styles says it was Forkway’s approach to aftercare and service that prompted them to turn to the company when replacing Beatson Clark’s forklift truck fleet.

He said: “Eighteen months ago, we were running a fleet of ageing and unreliable forklift trucks. Forkway provided a full repair and maintenance contract for the fleet that enabled us to extend its lifespan before investing in a new fleet of VX forklift trucks. We were impressed by the service and dedication to customer care demonstrated by Forkway, making them the obvious choice to supply our new forklift fleet.

“The reliability of our fleet is essential to the smooth running of our business. We run a 24/7 manufacturing operation so our equipment is in use for up to 80 hours per week. It is vital that we have a maintenance contract that helps us to eliminate unnecessary downtime and allows us to maintain our reputation for being able to deliver on time all of the time.”

Each lpg gas forklift is required to lift four crates, weighing a total of 1.6 tonnes, to a maximum height of six metres. They are used to transport pallets of glass containers at various stages of the production process around the factory, and to move the finished product from warehouses to vehicles that deliver to customers in the UK and abroad.

The forklifts have been fitted with all weather cabs with heater, demister, screen and screen wash and, at the specific request of the drivers, have been modified to include CD players, fabric swivel seats and foot directional control.

The lpg forklift trucks have been modified to include cascade double pallet handling attachments to lift two pallets at a time. Two of the forklifts have also been adapted to include three stage triplex masts suitable for loading containers, which has eliminated the need to have two separate forklifts for each operation.

Jonathan said: “Forkway doesn’t take a one size fits all approach and has been very flexible in accommodating our specific application requirements. They don’t just provide the product, they provide a service as well. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them.”

Richard Greaves, group sales director of Forkway, said: “We enjoy an almost unique relationship with Beatson Clark, being true business partners. We have built our business on the back of genuine customer care, and the bespoke agreement we have with Beatson Clark is a good example of how we strive to meet our customers’ needs.”

Contact Yale on 01252 770700 www.yale-forklifts.eu

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