Aisle-Master has delivered 25 trucks to service Stobart's contract logistics and warehousing division.

Aisle-Master Ltd beat competitors Translift Bendi and Fleixi Narrow Aisle to win a tender to provide UK haulage firm Eddie Stobart with a new articulated forklift fleet.

The Irish articulated forklift manufacturer has delivered 25 trucks to service Stobart's contract logistics and warehousing division, which has 6 million sqft. (557,418 sqm) of storage facilities for major names in the UK retail and manufacturing sectors. Another 10 trucks will arrive in the next 12 months.

Stobart switched to the Aisle-Master brand, which is manufactured in Monaghan, Ireland as it was keen to keep the articulated system that ensured optimum pallet density in narrow-aisle configurations.

The company's old fleet had come to the end of its operational life. The new trucks will also meet increased customer demand amidst changes in the company's business model.

"We have seen a marked increase in productivity levels at every site where the Aisle-Masters have been introduced," says operations director Graeme Undy, "which is beneficial for our operators, ourselves and, most importantly for our customers. The investment in this new fleet has certainly paid off."

Undy and materials handling equipment manager Brian Smith were drawn to the build quality and "reputation for reliability" of the Aisle-Masters, and the "accommodating and can-do attitude" of its personnel.

"We like to forge amicable relationships with suppliers who are open to suggestions from our side, which helps to drive innovation and this accords well with Aisle-Masters reputation for providing customer-led solutions," Undy explains.

The 2 T capacity electric powered 20WHE models operating in about 70% of Stobart's warehousing network are bespoke units. They place and pick pallets that have been deposited in the goods-in bay by other forklifts or power pallet trucks. They can also be used for offloading and yard work at sites with external pallet banks. Existing aisle widths vary from 1,660 mm to 2,400 mm (5.5 to 7.9 ft.) and racking heights are from 9 to 11 m (29.5 to 36 ft.).

A crucial issue in the initial tender was the provision of continual battery power for minimum disruption when batteries need to be changed. The solution from Aisle-Master was to supply three batteries for each unit, so that at any one time one is in use, the other is charging and the third is standing ready.

The trucks are on a contract hire basis so it is difficult to put an exact figure on the value, says Aisle-Master spokeswoman Liz Townsend.

"As this is an ongoing project Aisle-Master envisages more orders as Eddie Stobart receives more contracts for its services from customers."