(L-R) Darren Boiling, global after-sales manager, Pyroban; Sean Urry, fitter, Pyroban; Martin Cooper, product support, Linde Materials Handling; Steven Fletcher, applications engineer, Pyroban.

Pyroban's European explosion-proof (Ex) forklift conversions will now take place at its Electric Centre of Excellence in the Netherlands or its Diesel Centre of Excellence in the UK.

"Due to strong, sustained demand across the EMEA region and ever-increasing technical complexity of new materials handling equipment, Pyroban will be restructuring its European manufacturing operations," explains Matthew Shirkie, head of Pyroban's industrial division. "All future Ex conversions of electric trucks will be undertaken at our factory in Hendrik Ido Ambacht in the Netherlands, while all future Ex conversions of IC engine trucks will be undertaken at our factory in West Sussex, UK."

The company says the changes will reduce factory lead times, reduce truck conversion times and put it in a strong position for growing the business and focusing on its customers' needs.

The explosion-proof conversion of forklifts for use in hazardous areas is one of Pyroban's main activities. In 2014, the company expects to convert about 750 units.

Forklift manufacturers authorise Pyroban to convert their models for use in manufacturing and storage areas where an explosive atmosphere could occur, typically in the chemical, paint, food, drink, waste, coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, bottled gas and logistics sectors.

"The UK factory is now organised as a diesel production line, with engineering, manufacturing and assembly teams trained specifically on diesel technologies. Similarly in the Netherlands, the factory is organised and skilled to convert all types of electric equipment from small pallet trucks right through to man-up very narrow-aisle machines," Shirkie says.

Pyroban says both factories are equipped with the very latest test facilities to ensure all Ex conversions fully comply with the ATEX 94/9/EC directive and all appropriate European standards. Trucks will continue to be tested in accordance with the EN1755 duty cycle and issued with relevant certification and manuals, whether for Zone 1, 2, 21 or 22 hazardous area operations.

In 2013, Pyroban invested over GBP2 million (USD3.3 million) in an additional manufacturing facility in Shoreham-by-Sea in the UK as part of manufacturing growth and due to continued high demand in both the industrial and oil and gas divisions.