Accident Report: Electric Pallet Jack Vs. Transport Truck Near Atlanta, GA

The incident occurred when an electric pallet jack was being relocated in a 52’ transport truck trailer by a local beer distributor near Atlanta, Georgia in September of 2016.  At one point during the trip, the truck’s driver was forced to come to complete stop to avoid an accident with another vehicle. 

As the transport truck came to a sudden stop, the Stärke LiftMaxx PT45WAX electric pallet truck maintained its velocity and flew towards the front of the transport truck at 65mph.  The PT45 generated enough force it completely removed the nose of the trailer from both the floor and roof.  The damage to the trailer was severe and would likely be written off.

Uncertain about the condition of the PT45, the customer called their local Stärke Material Handling authorized dealer, Lanier Lift, a local Stärke dealership based out of Buford, GA to service the unit and conduct a post-accident inspection.  According to Brian Harmon, customer service representative at Lanier Lift, and a former lift mechanic with decades of experience, the Stärke LiftMaxx PT45WAX was able to go back to the distributor the same day despite experiencing what amounted to a fall from a four story building.  In fact, the damage to the PT45WAX was entirely cosmetic, amounting to a small crack in the rear cover and some minor scratches to the paint.

“Try that with any other pallet jack… ANY other pallet jack and it would be completely destroyed!  All this unit required was a new cover and some paint – nothing to it.  Now that is true quality!” explained Brian Harmon.

This incident demonstrates that Stärke equipment is designed and manufactured to provide high quality and durable equipment for even the toughest applications.  This is particularly the case with the PT45WAX, which utilizes durable metal parts for the essential components (unlike the lower quality plastic parts used by many competitors), a rugged steel frame, corrosion-resistant Zinc Dichromate fittings, and Stärke system of “constant stability”.  For more information or to demo a unit for yourself, please visit Stärke online or find a local dealer near you!

For more information or to demo a unit for yourself, please visit us online or find a local dealer near you!

www.starkeforklift.com

Local: (905)-227-7554  |  Toll free: 1-877-435-4352

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Avoid Product Damage and Improve the Efficiency of Your Warehouse

The urge to improve productivity and efficiency is an ever-present companion for anyone working in the fields of warehousing and supply chain management. This remains such a constant concern because, by increasing throughput and volume, a company opens up the possibility for increased growth and earning potential. With the direction and value of this concept a forgone conclusion, the issue becomes how to achieve the desired results.

Given the exorbitant capital investments required to increase or modify the available space of a given warehouse, many firms elect to improve productivity through more cost-effective options including the acquisition of new equipment and technologies. By replacing old and antiquated equipment with newer, better-equipped models, managers are able to reduce the time spent on certain tasks (time spent travelling between lifts, for example) while also reducing downtime and maintenance costs. A win-win situation, right?

Well, not so fast. While purchasing new equipment may eliminate certain inefficiencies present within an organization’s workflow, choosing the wrong equipment may also result in increased product damage. Losses due to product damage, in turn, offset the advantages of quicker, higher capacity equipment as large stacks and heavier loads are inherently less stable. To address this issue, many manufacturers utilize fixed stop supports on either side of pallet trucks and straddle stackers. Here, the fixed stops are supposed to prevent a significant deviation to either side in an attempt to stop loads from tipping as the vehicle turns. The problem with fixed stop supports, however, is their tendency to catch on uneven surfaces (older floors, dock plates, etc.) and bring the equipment to a sudden stop while the momentum of the load carries it forward onto the floor.

So, where does that leave our warehouse and supply chain managers? Or anyone else with material handling needs? Enter Stärke's LiftMaxx line of electric pallet trucks / jacks and straddle stackers and Stärke’s Continuous Stability System.

To avoid incidences of tipping and product damage, Stärke LiftMaxx equipment is equipped with a fixed drive wheel supported by two cantilevered, spring-loaded casters in constant contact with the ground, thereby supporting the stability of the lift truck and its load. With spring-loaded casters, the Continuous Stability System smoothly rolls over uneven surfaces without compromising the stability of the truck or its load. This system offers improved control over competitor fixed stop supports, which are positioned up off the ground and are susceptible to friction wear. 

Stärke has created the most stable electric pallet truck on the market, offering added protection against product damage while in transit. With less than half the wearable parts of the competition, a Stärke electric pallet truck also offers fewer maintenance calls. An adjustable riser rod alters the height of your wheels with a simple nut adjustment, while offering ease of maintenance because of its simple, yet sturdy design. Stärke also uses metal components, rather than plastic, in many instances where our competitors do not; allowing for less wearable parts, and less down-time.

To illustrate the benefits of Stärke's Continuous Stability System, consider the case of a bottling plant. In a high volume operation with hundreds of employees and a fragile product, the chances of product damage are high. One of our dealer sales representatives, Brian Harmon out of Lift Inc. in Buford, GA, found out exactly what this means while presenting a demonstration of the Stärke PT45WAX AC electric walkie pallet truck.

The scene was one of hurried operators in a fast-paced distribution facility. Brian was speaking with the warehouse manager about the new Stärke PT45WAX. He had - seconds ago - finished explaining the Stärke Continuous Stability System (which comes standard on all electric pallet trucks) when an operator rounded a corner in front of them a little too sharply, and the competitor unit, fully stocked with several cases of beer, lost a few cases from the top layer, which fell from the load. The outcome was a loud crash on the concrete floor, and a resulting pool of beer.

“That wouldn’t happen with a Stärke, would it?” The manager stated sincerely, pointing at the mess, frowning over the loss.

Brian just shook his head. “No, sir.” He said, looking down in a moment of silence for the lost beer.

This story could have saved the company money rather than lost money with a Stärke AC pallet truck which does not depend on raised fixed stop supports to keep the truck from tipping, but rather cantilevered spring loaded casters, which have constant contact with the floor.

www.starkeforklift.com

Local: (905)-227-7554  |  Toll free: 1-877-435-4352

Canac Goes All in with Stärke's 4,000 lb. Electric Pallet Truck

Stärke is proud to announce that Canac – an independent retailer specializing in hardware and construction materials for over 135 years in Quebec – recently purchased acquired a small fleet of Stärke PT40XMA electric pallet trucks from our Quebec City dealership – Chariots Élévateurs National. For many, this account represents the growth and development of the Stärke brand in Quebec, especially given the size of the order and Canac's standing within the business community of Quebec.

Why Canac Chose Stärke?

One of the most important criteria for Canac was finding a piece of equipment capable of handling large loads and maneuvering within a retail environment without causing excessive damage to store merchandise. Taking this into consideration, Chariots Élévateurs National recommended Stärke’s 4,000 lb. electric pallet truck, the PT40MXA. Unlike some of the competition, the PT40MXA is able to deftly navigate tight corners and uneven surfaces without sacrificing the vehicle’s stability or the integrity of its load. This is accomplished through an innovative design feature known as the Continuous Stability System, which maintains constant contact with the ground through a fixed drive wheel supported by two spring loaded castors.

When combined with its solid construction, compact frame and ease of operation, Stärke's PT40 electric pallet truck represents the perfect combination of maneuverability and lifting power for retail operations such as Canac. And, since Stärke's Continuous Stability System comes standard with all Stärke LiftMaxx electric pallet trucks, owners of our LiftMaxx electric pallet trucks are guaranteed one of the most stable pallet trucks on the market. "Because it makes sense to expect peace of mind at a fair price".

Canac 

As a company with 24 regional branches and over 2,200 employees in the province of Quebec, Canac continues to expand its business in the region. Canac currently offers over 20,000 products including tools and hardware, painting supplies, flooring, construction materials, and automotive products. For those interested in Canac and its complete product line, they can be found online at www.canac.ca or at one of their 24 locations throughout Quebec.

Chariots Élévateurs National

Chariots Élévateurs National is an authorized dealer of Stärke material handling equipment located in Quebec City, Quebec. They can be reached at via telephone at 418-580-5171 or via e-mail at chariotsnational@gmail.com.

www.starkeforklift.com

Local: (905)-227-7554  |  Toll free: 1-877-435-4352

Light, Medium and Heavy Duty Pallet Trucks / Jacks

Find strength in numbers by adding Stärke’s versatile team of electric pallet trucks, the PT40 and PT45, to your business today. With the compact and maneuverable PT40 and the efficient lifting power of the PT45, you’ll be able to handle light, medium and heavy duty applications (up to 4,000 and 4,500 lbs. respectively) and everything in between! “We’re seeing an upsurge in requests for compact pallet trucks across all industries as space becomes more and more valued in warehouses, distribution facilities and manufacturing sectors.” Says Jim Chesla, VP of Stärke material Handling Group. “The PT40 was designed out of necessity for delivery trucks, retailers and production facilities, but works well in general shipping and receiving applications as well, where narrow aisles demand a more compact piece of equipment.” 

Why choose Stärke over the competition?

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As part of our commitment to providing our customers with high quality, innovative products, our new electric pallet trucks include several industry-leading design features. The Stärke Continuous Stability System, for example, reduces incidence of tipping while turning corners, or travelling on uneven surfaces. This system includes a fixed drive wheel supported by two spring loaded castors, which are in constant contact with the ground; supporting the stability of the lift truck. For ease of entry and release from pallets, all Stärke LiftMaxx electric pallet truck models incorporate skid entry wheels with bottom-boards while many of our competitors still favor solid entry plates. 

As you can see, Stärke has truly created one of the best electric pallet trucks on the market. With less than half the wearable parts of the competition, a Stärke electric pallet truck also requires fewer maintenance calls. An adjustable riser rod alters the height of your wheels with a simple nut adjustment, while offering ease of maintenance because of its simple, yet sturdy design. Stärke also uses metal components, rather than plastic, which means that there are fewer wearable parts, and less down-time.

Visit us online for more information, to download product brochures, or find a dealer near you

www.starkeforklift.com

Local: (905)-227-7554  |  Toll free: 1-877-435-4352

The Stärke Continuous Stability System for Electric Pallet Trucks is Safer!

 The Stärke Continuous Stability System reduces incidence of tipping while turning corners, or travelling on uneven surfaces. A fixed drive wheel supported by two cantilevered, spring loaded casters are in constant contact with the ground, supporting the stability of the lift truck and its load. The Stärke Continuous Stability feature offers improved control over competitor fixed stop supports, which sit off the ground and wear quickly over time. Fixed stops are also prone to becoming caught up on rough or uneven floors, causing sudden stops, precipitating falling merchandise and possible damages and safety hazards, where the Stärke casters move over the terrain with a smooth and steady flow.

Stärke has created the most stable electric pallet truck on the market, offering added protection against product damage while in transit. With less than half the wearable parts of the competition, a Stärke electric pallet truck also offers fewer maintenance calls. An adjustable riser rod alters the height of your wheels with a simple nut adjustment, while offering ease of maintenance because of its simple, yet sturdy design. Stärke also uses metal components, rather than plastic, in many instances where our competitors do not; allowing for less wearable parts, and less down-time.

Including an Electric Pallet Truck with the Stärke Continuous Stability System to your company’s fleet will help reduce accidents and costly damage to both employees and product.

The new compact electric pallet truck - an ideal solution for lift gate and local delivery applications

The new Stärke PT40MXA compact electric pallet truck is an ideal solution for lift gate and local delivery applications.

With a carrying capacity of 4,000 lbs and a 24-volt AC motor, the new PT40MXA electric pallet truck from Stärke delivers the perfect fit for tight working environments.

Because it’s more compact than a regular powered pallet truck, the operator experiences easier maneuverability when working in loaded trailers. The maintenance-free batteries and on-board charger ensure continuous performance throughout the day.

“We’re seeing an upsurge in requests for compact pallet trucks across all industries as space becomes more and more valued in warehouses, distribution facilities and manufacturing sectors.” Says Jim Chesla, VP of Stärke Material Handling Group. “The PT40MXA was designed out of necessity for delivery trucks, retail and production facilities, but works well in general shipping and receiving applications also, where narrow aisles make for a better use of space.”

The PT40 AC motor’s brushless design removes the need for routine inspection and maintenance, while supplying further advantages such as low noise level, and short turning radius’.

“The Stärke Continuous Stability System reduces incidence of tipping while turning corners, or travelling on uneven surfaces.” Michael Poeltl, marketing and dealer development specialist adds, “This system includes a fixed drive wheel supported by two spring loaded castors, which are in constant contact with the ground; supporting the stability of the lift truck.”

This model will be available in May/June but will be offered to Stärke dealers in March for pre-order. With the ever-changing state of the materials handling industry, Stärke will forever be your beacon for adaptation.