It is a global market that produces around 411 million tonnes per year and has an annual turnover of £11 billion. From loose to packaged, recycled blocks and finished sheets, paper is used in a multitude of applications in daily life and in industry; hence the need to handle a variety of materials.

There are generally considered three main paper industry areas: pulp and recycling, paper rolls, and palletised finished products. Each of these areas requires a wide range of different materials handling solutions and specialist equipment.

Not only does Yale understand the solutions required to meet the needs of every facet of the paper industry, but it also has an appreciation of the evolving nature of the sector. “Paper applications are changing,” commented Josie Burrell, Industry Solutions Group Manager for Yale, “Recycling is growing, and the demand for quality and specialist paper is also on the increase. By understanding the industry trends we are able to better cater for the materials handling requirements of our customers. Around 20% of paper costs are attributed to handling and shipping – this is a huge proportion; therefore it is imperative that our clients can trust the solutions we provide.”

Recycled Paper Pain Points
7.5 million tonnes of recovered paper is collected per year, making it one of the largest growth sectors in the paper industry. In fact, around 80% of UK-made paper utilises recovered paper, which is by far the biggest source of recyclate from domestic waste streams. The process that transforms recycled paper is an area that possesses unique and specific challenges when it comes to forklift truck operation.

Although recycled paper bales come as a standard shape – dimensions and weight can all vary. Bales are frequently left outdoors, where rainwater can add to the moisture content and impact on weight and rigidity, causing handling and operator problems. Exposure to the elements can also take its toll on the materials handling fleet, meaning reduced reliability and risk to just-in-time fulfilment.

Dust and pulp from recovered paper presents a challenge to the fleet. If it permeates into the inner workings of a truck it can cause overheating due to clogged cooling filters and therefore the temporary loss of an indispensable asset. Moreover, the risk of fire is amplified, as paper is highly combustible.

Andreas Nussbaum, Facility Manager at Yale customer Kimberly-Clark, has an in-depth knowledge of the working conditions in the paper environment: “It’s hot, it’s humid, there’s dust everywhere and production is a 24-hours-a-day operation. Our work environment places very high demands on the vehicles in our factory. At the same time, it is necessary to move large quantities: the paper machines have an almost insatiable appetite for waste paper and pulp.”

Overcoming dust and debris
Using its years of experience and knowledge, Yale has developed a number of truck adaptations specifically for the paper industry. Included amongst the performance enhancing features of the Yale® Veracitor VX range is the automated flushing of debris from the engine compartment, which keeps the vehicle running for longer between clean-outs. Combi-cooler radiators cool both engine coolant and transmission oil, and a load weight display provides real-time feedback to the operator of the load weight being lifted.

Also featured is an underbody belly pan to prevent material entering the engine area and causing clogging and overheating, while drive-axel rubber guards minimise debris falling between the mast and the chassis. Protective elements include a radiator screen, powertrain protection, a sealed chassis, exhaust wraps, as well as tilt and steer cylinders being shielded by ballistic nylon covers.

For extreme operating applications Yale has developed the industry leading GDP50VX Counterbalance ‘Cool Truck’ package. Packed with features to overcome the difficult environments found in the paper supply chain, the Cool Truck features a hydraulic fan with a self-cleaning reversing function, a fully enclosed frame to minimise the volume of paper debris drawn into engine compartment, and high temperature hydraulic oil.

“When operating standard forklift trucks in the paper industry, the radiators can easily get clogged up causing unnecessary downtime,” said Josie. “This is not only frustrating; it costs businesses money in lost production and can lead to other problems. This is where our clever Combi Cooler radiator comes into its own, with the fan changing direction for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to blow out any unwanted dust and debris.”

Confidence in the Yale solution
The pulp and recycling area of the paper industry is a challenging working environment making constant demands on materials handling equipment. For this reason, customers require a forklift range that offers the ultimate in quality and reliability. Josie is confident in the ability of Yale to fulfil these needs: “Each stage of the paper and products cycle can require a wide range of different materials handling solutions and specialist equipment. The process that transforms recycled paper is particularly unique in the challenges that it poses. Through consultation with our customers and industry experts we’ve developed a range of trucks that provide a package of features to support productivity in dusty, dirty environments.”

Yale Europe Materials Handling says it enjoyed a successful IMHX 2019, which took place from 24 – 27 September at the NEC in Birmingham. Yale worked closely with its UK partner, Briggs Equipment, to deliver an event that showcased a range of materials handling solutions, as well as the benefits of a close manufacturer-partner-customer relationship in driving productivity.

Taking place every three years (and biennial from 2021), IMHX is the UK’s largest event for logistics and supply chain professionals with tens of thousands of visitors estimated to have passed through the exhibition’s doors.

Yale Brand Manager, Iain Friar, said: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our return to IMHX for another fantastic event. We’ve demonstrated a wide range of solutions for boosting productivity, from robotics and alternative power solutions, to pallet and Very Narrow Aisle trucks – as well as the customer success stories of our longstanding partnership with Briggs Equipment.”

Close partnership
“At Yale, we pride ourselves on the close relationship we enjoy with Briggs Equipment, who help to deliver our company philosophy of “People. Products. Productivity.”, said Iain. “Our combined understanding of our customers’ industries and the challenges they face, enables us to offer the ideal solution for their application, coupled with the ongoing support of a knowledgeable, experienced dealer.”

Marston’s is a prime example of this close partnership. As a trusted supplier, Briggs was invited to Marston’s West Thurrock facility to advise on how to make the best use of their warehouse space. Briggs quickly grasped the challenges of the brewery’s site and supplied a range of customised Yale® equipment, including LPG forklifts with keg clamps, low level order pickers, and reach trucks. Marston’s is no stranger to Yale products, and its nationwide fleet now stands at over 200 Yale trucks, all of which are serviced and maintained by Briggs engineers.

To demonstrate the success of this ongoing partnership between Briggs, Marston’s and Yale, Marston’s kegs were the load of choice for the Yale® MP20 pedestrian pallet truck on display at IMHX. This proved to be a useful icebreaker with new prospects looking to find out more about how the pedestrian pallet truck and precision control tiller head can help optimise productivity in their operations.

A pallet of sweet treats, kindly provided by another Yale customer, could also be spotted on the Yale MTC13 Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) truck. Capable of lifting up to 17m, Yale VNA trucks offer greater cube utilisation by optimising pallet storage and retrieval at high levels and in very narrow aisles. This allows warehouse managers with limited space to fully utilise it and increase storage density.

UK debut for Yale robotics
Yale displayed its robotic MC15 counterbalance stacker for the first time in the UK. Visitors watched as the counterbalance stacker autonomously lifted a pallet from racking and carried it across the stand, simulating a warehouse application.

“The robotic counterbalance stacker generated a great deal of interest. Visitors were particularly curious about how the Driven by Balyo technology enables it to operate without the need to install additional infrastructure, and were impressed to hear how easily the truck can switch between manual and autonomous modes” said Iain.

Yale robotic trucks are a cost-effective solution for applications seeking increased uptime and productivity, without the additional cost of installing and maintaining a dedicated physical infrastructure. The trucks use existing structural features to generate their own map of the working environment, so there is no need to bury wires in the floor or mount reflectors on the walls.

The current Yale robotics fleet includes a counterbalance stacker, tow tractor, and low-level order picker, all of which can integrate fully with existing Warehouse Management System (WMS) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, allowing real-time adjustments to be made.

Going green
Alternative power solutions continues to be a growing topic within the materials handling industry and Yale industry experts were on hand to discuss the most appropriate energy solutions for specific applications at IMHX. This year the Yale stand featured an all-electric line-up, including a lithium-ion powered MP20 pedestrian pallet truck.

Iain Friar concluded: “It was a pleasure to speak to both new and existing customers at IMHX and have the opportunity to demonstrate how the close partnership we have with our dealers can benefit them. We are passionate about providing tailored solutions, helping operations maximise their productivity and efficiency, without compromising on ergonomics or total cost of ownership. We are already looking forward to returning to the next IMHX!”