| Deep reach telescopic forklift trucks are helping | | | | two pallets deep - with one pallet stored behind the |
| distribution centers to achieve much more economical | | | | other so both from the same aisle position. As the |
| and high-density use of warehouse space. Recent | | | | first is removed, the second pallet becomes available. |
| years have seen a rapid increase in the use of | | | | Basically, the truck is a normal reach forklift truck |
| "reach" forklift trucks because rising warehousing | | | | tractor unit fitted with a different telescopic mast |
| costs dictated optimum use of space in both new | | | | and each mechanism geared to picking up and |
| buildings and additions. | | | | depositing two pallets deep into the racking. |
| Reach trucks, warehousemen learned, could work in | | | | Space use is improved by one-third over the |
| much narrower aisles than conventional | | | | traditional reach truck which moves in for only one |
| counterbalance trucks. Space use could be improved | | | | pallet off the rack. The approach, in a warehouse, |
| by up to 21 per cent with such equipment. | | | | could eliminate two aisles out of every five required |
| "Deep reach" trucks sometimes are described as | | | | in normal rack storage. Twelve racks can be put in |
| double-deep because of their ability to place and | | | | somewhat less space than that which is normally |
| retrieve pallets set one behind the other from a | | | | required for 10. |
| single aisle position. Recently added to the materials | | | | Some warehouse veterans say swing reach |
| handling field is the "swing-reach" lift, or "turret" truck. | | | | telescopic forklifts are the most productive fork |
| The truck works on both sides of an aisle without | | | | truck innovation ever. Such equipment, they say, |
| turning and is used in conjunction with routine pallet | | | | works in guided aisles, can travel at high speed and |
| storage. | | | | lift while traveling. Added performance advantages |
| Use of the "swing-reach" forklift trucks is consistently | | | | are semi-automatic horizontal positioning and |
| doub1ing or even tripling the national averages for | | | | completely automatic vertical stacking and placement. |
| conventional fork truck movements per hour, some | | | | In addition, swing reach installations are experiencing |
| industrialists report. | | | | successful application of current wire guidance |
| Hundreds of deep reach and swing reach trucks are | | | | technology. Thus, fantastic gains are likely, with direct |
| seen in hundreds more warehouses today, compared | | | | vehicle-computer communication becoming feasible. |
| to five years ago. | | | | Inventories would be reduced as movement of swing |
| The deep reach concept features the use of racks | | | | reach trucks is optimized. |