Hi everyone,
I am a university student who is new to the website! I am currently doing some analysis on industrial sector and emerging technology, in particular im interested in battery powered forklifts.
Basically I am trying to get a feel for the size of the industry, the landscape and the key factors impacting the success and value of battery powered forklifts. I have looked at few IBIS reports but would love if anyone had a two cents to contribute or could put me to any sources they use for the latest market info.
Thanks, appreciate any and all contributions!
Showing items 1 - 20 of 23 results.
@Triumphrider.
Believe it or not, some salespeople actually care about customers and want them to have the best success. Others, that give the profession a bad name, are the 'credit card and smile' types that are buying the business. Have no use for people like that (I can think of one major player that provides extravagant trips, expense accounts and salespeople with little knowledge.)
That being said, I am in agreement with you for the most part re: Fast Charging a battery. The ugly little secret is that Lead Acid is really not the best chemistry for rapid charging., not even close. All manufacturers are aware of this, more or less. I've always said it's a band aid until the next technological electro-chemical breakthrough.
Duodeluxe, I stand by my statement,the main reason in this area where i am at everybody knows everybody in the industry. Most companies in this area always check referances not only by the referances on the application but by calling around and asking if someone is worth hiring. There is a shortage of good techs in this area but people still take the time to try and hire the qualified people. BTW Ridden brit bikes for about 35 years and was really glad when the new bonneville was reintroduced.
Us forklift technicians are normally the one's that go in & sort out the mess sales cause when the new truck turns up on site.
The amount of times i've had to retrofit stuff on a customer site or even remove stuff from a brand new truck due to incorrect equipment spec thanks to the poxy salesperson.
Sales people sending in the complete wrong type of demo truck is another thing that annoys me.
Triumph rider;
That is a gross generalization about salesmen. I have to say that I had quite a bit of that done to me by prospective technicians that I interviewed and unfortunately made the mistake of hiring them. I call them "people with tools".
Btw I had a 650 Tiger and rode cross country on the back of a 750 Bonneville.
Gabriella- Two things. One , I agree with Edward t on his observations. Every place the I have seen the quick charge battery system in place they always seem to have a shorter life span. Two, If you want to really find out about the lift truck industry talk to service techs and people involved in the parts systems. The proper spec truck is a balancing act between what is really needed and what some salesman will try and sell you. Omce they get their sales comissiom most can care less.
I have said this before If you want somke blown up your b--- contact your local sales man.
I have seen the market research reports of forklifts in the website of The Business Research Company, It contains all the information about the market growth and market size of forklifts. You can to the website to access the reports.
I also think. that is not worth buying 2 counterweight. After all, it is the loss of money without getting results. better to replace the battery. Statistics for many companies from [url=http://marketpublishers.com/catalog/industry.html]industry analysis report[/url] confirms the existence of such a process when they change batteries.
I say better to prevent truck parking on charging bays by physical means and make the lazy buggers change the battery, it makes no sense the buy two counterbalances at 20 odd thousand pounds each, when two batteries will cost you 3000 to 4000 a pop.
How many times have you walked into a factory and seen 2 or 3 batteries stood on pallets that have never moved for three years because operatives have been to lazy to change batteries on trucks, that may account for9000.00 standing gradually sulphating up. I say better to by a spare lift truck.
Titus
Additional 2 cents from me.
As I mentioned before, the standard praxis here is - two batteries for shift work.
This is based upon the declarations from battery suppliers (Enersys/Hawker, Exide/Deta, Hoppecke), who claim, that the modern batteries with good automatic chargers with WiWa charging line can easily be used immediately after the charging process.
It's worthwhile to mention that the battery is about 30% of truck price, so multiplying this cost may seriously influence on investment parameters like ROI, NPV, IRR.
Well Easy- what's your slant on the debate? I believe that the 8-8-8 theory is built around getting the longest use out of a battery. A battery has a finite number of cycles built into it & this cycle takes full advantage of those cycles.
I know I'm old school but I'm always open to learning something new.
bbforks,
I read your response regarding battery cycles/charging times. That is old, old school.
Well Edward I must admit I have been impressed with these chargers because they do turn round battery charging times if you stick to the correct routine, and that is you run the battery down till the lift lockout cuts in or the battery is down to thirty percent charge, you then put the truck on charge when the battery starts gassing the air pump starts blowing cool air into the cells agitating the electrolyte which then reaches its S.G. Quicker but at the same time the electrolyte has not heated up as much, therefore dose not need as long to cool down.
This type of charger won't start charging a battery unless there discharged to at least 30% so stopping opertune charging ie putting the truck on charge during tea and meal breaks as you know that can shorten a batteries life cycle. This means that battery life expection of say 4/5 years is acheieveable in high volume business's.
Battery hygiene I've noticed if you keep the tops of the batteries clean you get less cell failures
This type of charging also means less topping up is necessary due to less gassing ie due to quicker charging.
I'm sure that one company I know of still has the original batteries in his trucks and there coming up to 7 years old.
Regards Titus
And as far as what Titus is referring to, I would also consider that there "MAY" be a bit of over-simplification and 'sales pitch' from the battery manufacturers, with respect to quicker charging and long battery life. They do have a horse in that race, and an interest in the outcome, which may slant their method of explaining things that some totally independent observer may not completely agree with.
I think the battery manufacturers equations don't value the possibility of years 5 to 9, in a batteries possible useful life, as much as (say) an single truck end user may.
Using a hot off the charger battery main draw back is that the battery has not come up to full voltage, the electrolyte in side the battery must come down to ambient temperatrue for full & stable battery voltage to be realized and accurately checked.
If you woudl check teh cell voltage right after the charge cycle has stop - you will get a false reading (often referred to as a surface charge).
Riche13,
I think you ought to approach the battery and charger manufacturers as battery technology and charger technologies have come on in leaps and bounds, chargers such as high frequency ionic chargers can charge a battery up in about 4 hrs depending on the general condition of the battery mind you if a battery has been over discharged the chargr may initiated a desulphation cycle which may take up to 11hrs to complete. I'm sure that as a student the battery companies will enthusiastically send you info on there products.
Regards Titus
I usually add that as far as the trucks hour meter, [in the 8 hours drive time in a battery cycle of 8-8-8] if you get 5 or 6 hours on the hour meter before you reach the battery meter's 20% remaining mark (which is when it it time to head to the charger) , that is about a good '8 hour shift' run.
The 8 hours cooling down time is every bit as important as the charge or run time too... don't allow a battery that is still hot/warm to the touch on the outside case to be put into service and don't allow 'quick charging' as the physics of a large lead acid battery do not respond well to less than proper charge cycles.
The charging time depends upon a charger.
As a standard, there are 8 hrs, 10 hrs, 12 hrs chargers.
If you work on shifts, yo use the 8 hrs charger, but the praxis we have here is that the truck is used till the red light on discharge indicator flashes. Than the battery is exchanged, sometimes in the middle of the next shift.
Usually for shift work, two batteries are a standard set.
Basically the charging cycle is as follows: 8 hrs charge, 8 hrs cool down, 8 hrs usage.
Thanks for the insight bbforks!
I was wondering if anyone knew what the current recharge cycle time is for an electric forklift? I am aware that forklifts can currently operate for ~8 hours on a single charge
Forkliftaction accepts no responsibility for forum content and requires forum participants to adhere to our rules of conduct. Click here for more information.
If you are having trouble using the Discussion Forums, please contact us for help.