A Jungheinrich electric (EFG 5 series) counterbalance truck.

Heras Products has ended its use of internal combustion forklifts with a EUR500,000 (USD650,000) purchase of 16 new electric forklifts and one reach truck from Jungheinrich.

The EFG 540 and EFG 430 electric forklifts, which will largely be used outdoors, have replaced the production facility's previous Hyster diesel forklifts.

Jungheinrich marketing executive Pascal Kwakman said it was the "general idea" that LPG and diesel forklifts were for outdoor use as they were hardier than electric forklifts.

"However, we are proving that electric forklifts, which we are supplying to Heras, can do exactly the same as LPG and diesel forklifts," he said.

"You see it more often now - people using electric forklifts outside. People think it's fragile but technology today is so advanced."

Heras said its production facility's forklift operators influenced the decision to buy Jungheinrich's electric forklifts.

The forklifts, which have three and four tonnes capacity, have steel cabins equipped with radio and CD players, heating and ergonomic chairs.

Electric forklifts produce less vibration and noise, thus easing driver fatigue.

Kwakman said extra lights mounted sideways on the vehicles were helpful for operators when order picking large fence works in the outer area of the production facility.

"The products of Heras are not in the warehouse itself but stored outside as fences and their parts can be used in outside weather conditions," he said.

The Heras Group, one of the largest producers of fencing, access control, and detection and security systems in Europe, is part of CRH plc, an international group in the field of building supplies.