Equipment Depot has struck an exclusive deal to distribute Narrow Aisle's Artix articulated forklifts in the United States.

Artix forklifts will be available through Equipment Depot’s Eqsolutions division, which specialises in warehouse and automation solutions for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities.

Equipment Depot chief sales officer Jonathan Hesener says: “Equipment Depot operates in seven of the top 10 US materials handling markets and expanding our product portfolio to offer the best equipment choice helps us respond to our customer-specific needs.”

The Very Narrow Aisles (VNA) forklift market is one of the fastest-growing segments in North America, according to Equipment Depot. VNA lifts can streamline warehouse operations by eliminating dead aisle space and increasing usable storage space by up to 50% while reducing costs and double handling.

Narrow Aisle international director John Maguire says: “Articulated chassis concepts were developed in 1990 and since then Narrow Aisle has provided over 15,000 units in 70 countries, in such brands as Amazon, DHL and Samsung.”

Meanwhile, Narrow Aisle has launched a new unit that offers free warehouse planning in the United Kingdom.

Narrow Aisle’s new project design department will be led by Paul MacBeath, who has joined the company from KION, where he oversaw the group’s storage division.

MacBeath says the United Kingdom has a huge number of warehouses that are no longer fit for purpose.

“Often the unit’s original role has changed completely and, as a result, the storage system is no longer as efficient as it could be,” he says. “By redesigning the facility’s layout and introducing new materials handling technology we give an existing warehouse a whole new lease of life.”

Narrow Aisle managing director Donald Houston says: “Modern warehousing is all about maximising whatever space you have available and offering a complete service from planning through to supply and installation of storage equipment means we can help warehouse operators get the most out of a new building or make real operational improvements to an existing facility.”