PALFINGER CRAYLER BM 214 PLAYS LEADING ROLE IN CARPET LOGISTICS

Nov 26, 2013 Warehousing Ireland Materials Handling, Materials Handling Comments Off on PALFINGER CRAYLER BM 214 PLAYS LEADING ROLE IN CARPET LOGISTICS

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Changed consumption characteristics demand new, intelligent transport solutions. Individually picked cargo is replacing the full loads currently common in many industries. The performance of the Crayler BM 214 truck-mounted forklift in the most varied of loading jobs for floor covering specialist KTO is unparalleled

There are many issues where Europeans simply no longer have their feet on the ground, a carpet-covered ground that is! The trend in European living rooms is moving further and further away from the conventional wall-to-wall carpeting towards alternative floor coverings such as parquet floors, quarry tiles or laminate.

The Belgian company KTO specialises in transporting carpet rolls between the distribution centres in Germany, France and the Benelux region. It reacted to consumer behaviour at a very early stage in a future-oriented manner. While it was common practice in the 1970s for warehouse staff and drivers to unload carpets manually, it was not long before a PALFINGER PC loading crane was used for assistance in order to unload the heavy carpet rolls, which could be up to five metres in length, from the depths of the loading area. Warehouse workers then took charge of further transport on special carpet roll hand carts manually. Attached to the rear of the lorry, the PALFINGER PC cranes proved to be reliable, powerful partners but restricted unloading on the lorry ramp.

In addition, palletised goods that are difficult to carry by crane such as laminate and parquet floor loads have featured more and more frequently on the delivery lists of the floor covering specialists for some years now. In the search for an appropriate solution, it was once again a PALFINGER premium product that provided the answer.

In the future, the revolutionary truck-mounted forklifts from the Crayler series, which are mounted under the vehicle’s floor, will take on the diverse loading and unloading jobs in the KTO fleet. The Crayler BM 214 is a fully fledged four-wheel forklift with mobile prongs with a lifting height of up to 2.85 metres that requires only a very short set-up time before it can begin exchanging loads of palletised, pre-assembled cargo. With its agile articulated steering system and compact external dimensions, the radio-controlled Crayler can easily handle the tightest of unloading situations. In addition to operating the vehicle, the 34 hp three-cylinder diesel engine in the rear of the Crayler has no difficulty completing lifting jobs of up to 2.1 tonnes.

The nimble PALFINGER Crayler truck-mounted forklift is parked in a compact box mounted beneath the frame of the articulated lorry that keeps the forklift safe from theft and does not block ramp access to the rear portal door. Since this product transports carpet rolls in addition to the palletised goods, a carpet roll mandrel was developed by the Belgian PALFINGER partner VD. Depending on what is needed, the steel carpet skewer with its quick-change system can be swapped for the fork prongs.

This turns the extremely stable PALFINGER Crayler four-wheel forklift into an all-rounder for daily distribution work – one that is highly prized by customer and operator alike – regardless of whether the customers wish to remain with their feet on the (carpet-covered) ground or venture onto a parquet floor in the future.

Technology facts: The PALFINGER Crayler BM 214 truck-mounted forklift belongs to the family of the revolutionary PALFINGER truck-mounted forklifts. Instead of being attached to the rear of the lorry or trailer, as is conventionally the case, they embark on the cargo journey in a box mounted centrally under the vehicle frame. Neither loadability on ramps nor manoeuvrability is restricted in any way. Unlike conventional truck-mounted forklifts attached to the rear of the vehicle, the total length of the carrier vehicle does not change. The innovative four-wheel forklift is positioned for a low centre of gravity in the centre between the vehicle axles. This is optimum for the driving safety of the lorry train.
Within half a minute, the innovative Crayler with its four wide tyres is ready for operation and can take on the most varied of loading and unloading jobs up to a forklift height of 2.85 metres. The user controls the forklift equipped with articulated steering via an intuitive PALFINGER radio remote control. The forklift itself is powered by a 34 hp diesel engine. Once work has been completed, the mast is folded over hydraulically and the PALFINGER Crayler – protected against theft, relocation damage and the weather – is securely parked in a transverse position in the transport box mounted beneath the vehicle frame.

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About PALFINGER AG
For many years PALFINGER has been one of the world’s leading manufacturers of innovative lifting solutions for use on commercial vehicles and in the maritime field. As a multinational group headquartered in Salzburg, the Company, which has approx. 6,200 employees, generated total sales of approx. EUR 935 million in 2012.

The Group has production and assembly facilities in Europe, in North and South America, as well as in Asia. The pillars of corporate strategy comprise innovation and the further internationalization as well as the growing flexibility of products, services and processes. PALFINGER is regarded not only as the market leader, but also the technology leader, in the global market for hydraulic loader cranes. PALFINGER is always in proximity to its customers due to its over 4,500 sales and services centres located in over 130 countries across all continents.

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