BT Industries has released a new hand pallet truck designed to reduce the strength needed to move and manoeuvre heavy loads.

The new BT Pro Lifter (pictured) features a unique device that enables operators to easily overcome the inertia of a heavy load.

A lever on the handle activates a mechanism that temporarily connects with the truck's front wheels. Once connected, an ordinary pump motion turns the wheels one third in the direction the truck is moving. This works in either direction.

The force needed to move a standard hand pallet truck laden with 2300kg is reduced by two-thirds with the new product, BT says, and makes precise positioning of heavy pallets easy by using the mechanism to "inch" the truck into position.