Forklift News - Forklifts smooth operations at lubricant plant

The Yarraville facility utilises a fleet of Toyota forklifts in its operations.

ExxonMobil’s lubricant storage and distribution facility in Yarraville is a fully automated, state-of-the-art, random-stacked facility which utilises a fleet of Toyota forklifts in its operations.

The forklifts are used to organise high-rise storage for up to 5,760 pallets and an additional 3,000 pallets in traditional pallet-racked storage.

Warehouse operations are managed by Linfox Logistics, which uses the forklifts to take product into store, pick orders and then load containers and semi-trailers.

"This is a site where material handling is intensive, so it is essential to have the best systems and equipment in place," says Linfox site manager Rod Newman.

When the leases on the terminal’s fleet of forklifts expired in mid-2007, Linfox undertook an extensive search for the best possible replacements.

"We shortlisted equipment from five different suppliers, then got their forklifts in for demonstrations and test use in the hands of the operators who would ultimately have to work with them," explains Newman.

He says operators looked at features such as visibility, ease of use of the controls and the ability to work through a full shift without fatigue.

Other aspects which came under scrutiny included occupational health and safety, environmental issues, operating costs and the service support available.

The results favoured equipment provided by Toyota Material Handling, and the Linfox Logistics team at Yarraville now goes about its work using Toyota 8 Series Deluxe forklifts – including a specially equipped flameproof diesel model designed for use where lubricants are being decanted.

Safety is also enhanced by an Operator Presence Sensing system which helps to prevent accidental movement of the forklift and forks when the operator is not seated at the controls. For extra safety, Linfox specified a digital weight scale and a travel and load handling controller for each of its Yarraville forklifts.

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