Kalmar Industries has launched a new medium forklift, the Kalmar 9-18 tonne.

The company says the new design is based on customer feedback on requirements for forklifts of the future.

The development of the new forklift, which was coordinated by a special project team, has resulted in a modern design with many unique features. Product development manager Stefan Johansson said patent applications had been made for some of the features.

"The complete development process has been highly targeted and systematic. We have developed only those functions and solutions that we know will be useful for our customers," he said. "We have constantly carried out testing to be absolutely sure the forklift we are launching is as good as we want it to be."

Kalmar has focused on better visibility, hiding the air filter and the sound insulation. The forklift's bonnet and counterweight follow the line of visibility to the rear, and the exhaust pipe has been placed at the corner post. At the front, all hoses, struts and corner posts have been optimised to reduce blind spots.

Electronic inching, which allows the operator to drive with high precision using slip control, is available for the first time on a medium forklift. Using "Optidrive", the driver can regulate speed independently of engine revolutions, making it possible to "inch" along while using maximum engine revolutions for lifting.

Other optional lifting innovations include "Optispeed", a system where a variable-speed pump is used in parallel with the normal system, using circuits to optimise lifting speed. "Optirev" ensures the engine works at maximum revolutions when lifting, contributing to lower noise levels and fuel consumption. If either of the systems fail, the machine continues to operate normally.

The Kalmar 9-18 tonne range is being shipped to all Kalmar distributors over coming months, the company says. Forkliftaction.com has a picture of the new truck on the website. To view the picture, click the "Photo" button above, or visit www.forkliftaction.com.