Palletised freight distribution company Cranleigh Distribution’s busy warehouse function relies on its fleet of forklifts to unload and load trucks and move pallets around its 73,500ft2 facility at Cranleigh.
Part of the Pall-Ex network, the company offers local, national, and international service options, with a reputation for maintaining the highest levels of quality for customers and their freight.
The challenge
Cranleigh Distribution’s materials handling fleet was entirely diesel powered. Working both outside and inside the warehouse, it was becoming increasingly clear that the company needed to switch the fleet to a cleaner, greener and more cost-effective solution, as Pete Taylor, Cranleigh Distribution’s Warehouse Manager, explained: “Alongside the unpredictable cost of diesel, which creates uncertainty for the business, we wanted to eliminate emissions from IC forklifts in our warehouse to protect our employees and improve their working environment. Additionally, we were under growing pressure to reduce our CO2 footprint from customers who require suppliers to act in responsible ways as part of their own sustainability reporting and transition to net zero.”
From an operational perspective, the trucks needed to be available for up to 17-hour shifts, to ensure full coverage over the busiest morning and evening periods, as well as at any time throughout the day. A further challenge was the confidence of Cranleigh Distribution’s drivers, who were convinced that diesel was the only solution for the operation.
The solution
Following an extensive evaluation process, Cranleigh Distribution took delivery of its first fully electric, emissions free forklifts in March 2023.
Commenting on the decision to switch to lithium ion, Pete said: “We assessed all the alternative-fuelled options on the market, and lithium ion seemed ideally suited to our operation.”
A visit to Croydon-based logistics company ELB Partners, which had already successfully made the switch to HELI lithium-ion forklifts with Grant Handling, helped seal the deal.
“The team at Grant Handling made everything as smooth as possible, from providing the right truck for our application to addressing the charging set up that ensures our forklifts are always ready for work whenever needed,” said Pete.
Staying in charge
Modern and compact with a 90° turning circle, the G2 truck ideal for operating in tight warehouses, where space is a premium.
All G2 forklift trucks are equipped with Heli Fleet Intelligent Control System ‘FICS’, an intelligent fleet management tool that uses cloud computing to give full visibility of the operational performance of vehicle and operator, all in real time. For Cranleigh Distribution, FICS helps to simplify fleet management, reducing operating costs and enhancing overall efficiency and safety.
Additionally, the new G2 lithium-ion battery is virtually maintenance free, reducing downtime. To ensure maximum uptime, service maintenance of the fleet is taken care of by Grant Handling.
The results
Arriving just before Easter, Cranleigh Distribution’s busiest time, the new HELI G2 lithium-ion trucks were immediately put through their paces, as Pete noted: “We usually move around 150 pallets a day, and over Easter this increases to up to 400 pallets, so it’s essential that the forklifts maintain the flow through the business. Although there was some initial nervousness about replacing diesel at this critical time, the new HELI G2s lithium ions performed throughout – they didn’t miss a beat.”
Importantly, the performance of the new trucks has impressed all three drivers, even the most sceptical. The new lithium-ion forklifts have also improved the workspace for Cranleigh Distribution’s 30 employees, who appreciate the quieter, cleaner, emissions free environment.
Please contact us for further information – info@granthandling.com
