Higher, more compact, more flexible
In warehouses and racking systems, every centimeter is used to accommodate an ever-increasing range of products in the most space-saving and cost-effective way possible. The demands on the reach trucks used are constantly increasing. In addition to a greater lifting height with simultaneously low mast vibrations, the vehicles must be highly maneuverable and have the best visibility conditions. To meet these requirements, Linde Material Handling (MH) equips its reach trucks R14 HD to R25 for payloads of 1.4 to 2.5 tons with a new heavy-duty mast.
Visibility-optimized mast for more safety and handling performance
The new mast offers operators a good view of the load and the working environment, as it has been designed much wider than previous models and the developers have been able to dispense with the cross bracing that was previously required. The result: significantly larger viewing windows between the mast profiles and thus a better view of the forks. The driver's field of vision is thus extended by up to 27 percent, depending on the type and design. The optimized design of the head crossbeam also allows a better view upwards. The driver thus has a better view and control of the forks when storing and retrieving at high lift heights. In addition to the view upwards, the view of the working environment is also improved, as the driver can look past the loaded mast without leaning to the side thanks to its advantageous position.
Speaking of height: The new lift mast enables a maximum lift height of 15 meters, exceeding the previously installed masts by a full two meters. Due to the increasing height of the new lift mast, the ratio between lift height and overall height has been optimized so that the reach truck can easily pass through gateways and racking. When closed, the new 15-meter mast is thus even lower than the 13-meter version of the previous model. The new lift mast also has a higher residual load capacity, so that the vehicles can move significantly more load weight than before when the lift mast is fully extended.
More robust and service-friendly
With increasing lifting height, mast vibrations inevitably occur. More robust mast profiles with staggered reinforcements provide more stability here, additionally stiffening the shear mast and minimizing the deflection of the individual components. This greatly reduces mast vibrations when storing and retrieving at high lift heights. On the one hand, this saves the driver the time needed to wait for the mast to swing out, and on the other hand it prevents collisions between the mast and the racking and thus damage to the load and infrastructure. Another gain in mast stability is generated by the optional Dynamic Mast Control (DMC) driver assistance system. Here, a sensor-controlled electric thrust drive compensates for mast vibrations and deflections by means of targeted and highly precise countermovements.
Despite the numerous changes, the vehicle length has remained compact so that the reach trucks can maneuver in narrow warehouse aisles as usual and the storage areas can be used optimally. To ensure that the mast can also be changed easily, the reach carriage now remains in the vehicle chassis during dismantling. In this way, the vehicles can be quickly moved to another location and quickly put back into operation there. This reduces the time required and the costs by up to 50 percent.