I am a postgraduate student at the University of Nottingham. As part of my business masters I am currently working alongside a Visualization and Simulation company called AIMS Solutions who specialize in bespoke training simulator systems and software. In the last two years AIMS has developed a number of physical equipment simulators for the port sector (cranes, tractor units, fork lift trucks etc). These use similar technology and methodology to aircraft flight simulators but have been designed to be much simpler to use and are aimed at lower cost industrial equipment operations. These simulators sell for somewhere in the region of £50k to £150k. Interest has been strong in the port sector and they have a route to market identified and in place.

My task is to find new opportunities/markets for their training simulators. The larger lift trucks outside of just the port sector (10-60 tonne lift capacity) have been identified as a market that could benefit from the use of such simulators for training purposes. I am posting on this forum in the hope that some of you may have some insider knowledge into the forklift market in general and could possibly give me your thoughts or advice in particular with regards to the possible use of simulators for the training of the larger model forklifts.

In terms of more specific queries, I have a number of additional questions which I would be grateful if anyone could provide some answers to.

Is there a significant difference between the smaller and larger liftrucks in terms of training and operation?

Roughly how many people (with regards to the larger models in particular) are participating in forklift training in the UK every year?

I have been quoted an average price of 200 pounds per day for forklift training courses lasting from 1 to 5 days, is this accurate or do prices and course length vary considerably?

As it stands, AIMS can provide evidence that their simulators are saving their port sector clients money (accident reductions, efficiency etc). When considering the market for large forklifts outside of the port sector, who would probably be more interested in these simulators, training providers, manufacturers (Svetruck, Kalmar, Konecranes etc.) or even someone else?

AIMS are trying to look down the cost scale when targeting potential equipment for their simulators. You are probably well aware that expensive equipment such as airplanes and trains already have very sophisticated simulators but equipment such as cranes, large forklifts and the like can be very expensive and cause a great deal of damage if mishandled and yet often do not have simulators available for them. With that in mind what I'm asking really is do you believe there is a need for a simulator for heavy forklifts?

If you have any information or thoughts concerning these questions or even on the use of simulators for forklift training in general, I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Thanks in advance.

(p.s. If you do reply I would be grateful if you could provide me with some personal details such as a company position etc since Aims will probably be unhappy if I turn around and say "some person on the internet says this...")