January 18, 2008 - It is easy to overlook the role that the humble forklift truck plays in our lives. But if you look around you almost everything you see and touch will at one point have been moved by a lift truck.

The global consumer demand for quicker and more cost effective services is growing relentlessly. At Cat Lift Trucks© we feel it is our responsibility, as a global forklift and warehouse equipment manufacturer, to strive for ever greater developments in efficiencies in energy consumption, improved ergonomics, safety and overall ease of use and maintenance.

All of this must be in line with the demand for lower environmental impact. Over the past decade we have seen an increase in awareness of environmental issues, both across business and with the general public. New legislations are being brought in aimed at reducing the detrimental effect we have on our planet. So throughout Europe and the world there is a great responsibility for all companies within industries such as manufacturing, logistics or retailers to reduce their carbon footprint. As a manufacturer, Cat Lift Trucks has a big role to play in assisting customers in meeting this demand.

For 2008 and beyond we are investing in even cleaner running diesel and gas engines, utilizing such systems as exhaust gas recirculation, which improves engine efficiencies thus reducing fuel costs, and reduces harmful gases such as NOx. Our AC powered electric trucks also push standards higher, with lower energy consumption, improved performance and lower maintenance costs.

However consumer demand continues to grow, which will lead to an increase in the number of forklifts being utilized and an increase in the use of this equipment. So it must not only be the actual forklift truck or warehouse equipment that can be of benefit.

With this in mind, we aim to provide the forklift truck user with a total solution. It is the ability to be able to advise on the most efficient methods of pallet and goods movement combined with flexibility to deal with changes, that can equally help reduce energy consumption and in turn reduce the harm to the environment.

Cat Lift Trucks, working in partnership with strong distribution partners such as Briggs Equipment (see case studies below), have proven experience in helping our customers reduce their total fleet of material handling equipment. These initiatives have lead to more efficient processes without reducing the ability to get the job done. Time after time this proves beneficial in reducing our customers cost on energy consumption and overall.

The combination of energy efficient and clean running equipment combined with a true logistics solution is one of the many ways we can all help improve our standards and reduce costs and waste. Over the past few years and well into the future we have and will continue to see companies taking greater consideration towards the environment and Cat Lift Trucks will be there to assist them.

Whitworths – Keeping Fleet Management in a Healthy Condition
Whitworths is market leader in the healthy snacks market, offering a host of award winning, first-to-market innovations. It was important for the company to retain its market-leading position through maximising economies of scale and improving efficiencies in its operations, in particular across its materials handling activities.

Briggs Equipment, the UK’s national Cat Lift Truck distributor, undertook a series of five detailed surveys to assess the site and its different areas of operation and the different machine specifications that would be required.

Whitworths’ fleet consists of a mixture of Cat® gas and electric counterbalance, reach trucks, low level order pickers, and power pallets. Through specifying trucks that could multi-task and work anywhere across the site Briggs increased the flexibility of working

and allowed operators to use any truck for any operation. Whitworths’ site uses a unique drive-in racking system, so Briggs purpose-built all the counterbalance trucks with drive-in racking modifications, which allows them to use the Caterpillar ® trucks to drive in and out of the racking, thereby dramatically improving their speed of operation.

Whitworths’ top priority was to better manage its fork lift truck operators. Chris Owen, supply chain manager at Whitworths, explains, “We needed a way to monitor impacts and damage as they occurred so that we could address and act on the problems as immediately. We were targeting for 50% year on year reduction in damage costs, so we needed an effective solution and quickly.”

As a result, Briggs fitted almost every truck in Whitworths’ fleet with the InfoLock’ truck management system. This included driver login procedure and a wireless system that transmits data on impacts and damage from the trucks as the incidents happen, updating the main LogIt system in real-time. “As well as providing thorough reports, the system also alerts us when impacts occur,“ comments Chris Owen. “This has helped to provide greater accountability for accidents and damage and helped to reduce damage around the site significantly.”

The Anochrome Group – Holistic Approach to Lifetime Costs
Briggs Equipment supplied a fleet of specially modified Cat counterbalance trucks to international coatings specialist, the Anochrome Group. The 15 new 2t compact and 1.8t diesel trucks from Cat’s N Range, six of which are fitted with Bolzoni rotators, are now being used in two of the group’s key divisions, Wolverhampton Electroplating and sister company BG Plating, in the heart of the Black Country. Briggs’ strong focus on lifetime costs and damage reduction initiatives helped secure the contract, which includes an all-in service contract for maintenance, repairs, breakdowns tyres and off-hire damage, as well as a free standing truck on each site.

Darren Field, Briggs’ account manager, explains how Briggs was able to offer 50% savings on tyre costs alone, “Both Wolverhampton Electroplating and BG needed a holistic approach to
lifetime costs if they were going to meet their cost saving objectives. The costs of tyres and damage are amongst the biggest ‘hidden’ costs in a long-term contract, so we focused on
these areas. We fitted every truck with a Transmon Tyre Protector which serves a dual function of transmission protection and also eliminates wheel spin. This not only saves 50% on tyre life, but protects the transmissions and differentials from unnecessary damage.”

Ian Davis, managing director at Wolverhampton Electroplating, was impressed with Briggs’ approach, “Briggs completed several thorough site surveys, and this coupled with a full application audit, meant that they thought outside the box and weren’t afraid to tell us that we were using the wrong type of equipment for the job. We are tight on space at this site, so Briggs recommended a smaller chassis which has given us better manoeuvrability. We are unusual in being a completely indoor operation, yet we have an excellent extraction system. Because of the particularly low emission levels on the Cat trucks, we were able to run the diesel fleet indoor and still be at 50% of the EC directive on emissions.”

DSGi Plc – A Bespoke Service for Supreme Efficiency
Briggs Equipment has preferred supplier status with DSGi plc, Europe’s leading electrical retailing group which includes Curry’s Digital and PC World. Briggs is supplying 165 Cat Lift Trucks to DSGi, as part of a major restructure of its national distribution network. The restructure, already well under way, will provide a world-class delivery service for customers and DSGi stores alike.

The first phase of the new contract involved the delivery of 29 trucks to a 250,000 sq ft warehouse in Avonmouth, Bristol. This was quickly followed by a further 38 trucks delivered to a new 1.4 million sq ft National campus in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The National campus is one of the largest and most effective distribution centres in Europe. In addition, Briggs also supplied 40 Cat DP20CN to DSGi’s Cross Dock Operations, which handle the local delivery to some 1200 high street and out-of-town stores and home delivery service throughout the UK. As part of the deal, Briggs modified its reach truck range to include a separate fifth lever for the opening / closing clamps and the side shift.

Steve Harris, MHE technical adviser at DSG international, said: “It is vital that our distribution centres deliver a supremely efficient operation throughout the year, but particularly during peak trading that runs from September to February. Over the last three years, Briggs has become our supplier of choice for short-term rental equipment due to their ability to deliver a very high quality product at only 24 hours notice. We chose Briggs because of the excellent on-going service we have received along with the reputation and reliability of the Cat brand.”

In addition, Briggs were able to work with them to provide custom modifications to their STR fleet, kitting out over 70 trucks with automated carton clamps, preventing slippage and making block stacking easier. Combined with 10 trucks with 11m masts for the high racking we assisted in significantly reducing damage and made the handling of goods more efficient.

- Ends -

Media contact:
Tiffany Clowes
Changeworks Communications
T. + 44 (0) 1785 247588
E.

Company Contact:
Scott Bullock
Briggs Equipment
Orbital Way
Cannock
WS11 8XW
T: 01543 430 455
W: www.briggsequipment.co.uk

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