Southern California News

CLARK TWLi20 Lithium Ion Powered Forklift

Barry Material Handling Equipment, New Forklifts, Uncategorized , , ,

TWLi20

100% AC Electric 48V Lithium-Ion
4000 lbs

Designed around the powerful 48V Lithium-Ion battery, the TWLi20 readily meets the needs of customers big and small. CLARK proudly adds the TWLi20 Three-Wheel Electric lift truck with integrated Lithium-Ion battery to its fleet of electric trucks. Designed to increase productivity and efficiently, powered by a Lithium-Ion battery, and designed with the operator in mind, the TWLi20 builds on the CLARK legacy of excellent, Built to Last trucks.

Lithium-ion Convenience, Efficiency and Productivity

Lithium-Ion batteries are efficient and maintenance-free, with no battery watering required. The easy-to-operate charger eliminates the need to remove the battery when charging, as well as gives you the ability to use opportunity charging to keep your forklift running all shift long. Lithium-ion batteries are also longer-lasting, more reliable, and require less service than traditional lead-acid batteries.

Operator Comfort

With the slim profile of the lithium-ion battery, the TWLi20 has a spacious operator compartment, with excellent ergonomic features including a retractable seatbelt, fully adjustable armrest, and dual joystick controls that are intuitive and comfortable for operators to use. Additionally, the wide-view mast and high operator seating position allows for excellent sightlines, providing both comfort and enhanced safety for operators. 

Performance

The TWLi20 has a tight turn radius, making it perfect for indoor and narrow aisle applications. The dual-joystick controls direct the movement of the forks, sideshifter, and fork positioner, allowing the operator to navigate the facility with ease. The chasis has a low center of gravity and wide tires, which provides excellent stability for the truck. 

Low Cost of Ownership

The fully enclosed drive, lift, and steer motors lead to less downtime, lower overall cost of ownership, and a higher ROI compared to other models without. The all-electric brakes on the TWLi20 and the powerful Lithium-Ion battery are both maintenance-free, with no brake pads to change or battery watering required. And the hydraulic lift components are sealed against dirt and water, protecting them from contamination. 

We are Southern California’s source for CLARK Material Handling equipment, service, OEM parts and rentals. For more information on any of the great CLARK products, please contact us at 800-322-5438.

Forklift Safety Day 2021, What You Can Do to Celebrate

Barry Company News, Material Handling News, Regulatory, Safety , , , , ,

The Industrial Truck Association has announced Forklift Safety Day, to be held Tuesday, June 8. While most of us won’t be able to attend the DC festivities as they are virtual due to Covid 19, there are things you can do to take advantage of this day to help create awareness about the dangers that forklifts present and how to minimize the potential for accidents that can result in injury or death, damage to your facility, equipment and financial losses.

We’ve compiled a short list of things you can do to improve safety on and around your forklifts, and create more attention to forklift safety.

Forklift Operator Training

Make sure all your forklift operators have been trained and that their refresher training is up to date, if applicable or necessary.

Free Forklift Safety Downloads

Pedestrian Training

Take some time to gather any staff that operates around forklifts, but not on them, to refresh them about the dangers of this equipment and how to be sure to use safe procedures when they are in an area of your facility where forklifts are being operated.

Forklift Maintenance

Make sure all your forklift’s maintenance is up to date. If you have a Planned Maintenance Agreement, this would be a good time to review it with your service provider to ensure all standard checkpoints as well as unique equipment attachments are being inspected and maintained properly.

Make sure you forklifts have proper safety equipment and that it’s operating properly. Lights, horns, back-up alarms, seat belts, fire extinguishers etc… 

Make sure you have lock-out kits to ensure that forklifts that do not pass an inspection are locked out immediately until repairs are made.

Learn more about our maintenance and service offerings

Site-Specific Review

Review any unique “site specific” features your facility may have and be sure your operators are aware of proper handling of equipment while on or around these features (ramps, areas where floors can be slick, floor substrates that vary etc…)

Forklift Operator Training

Make sure that training is part of your company’s orientation for anyone that will or MIGHT operate a forklift. Remember, employees that have not been properly trained aren’t even allowed to sit on and start a forklift, much less move it out of the way of anything.

Forklift Fleet Analysis

Review all your forklifts for possible replacement. Old forklifts, or those that are getting “up there” in hours, might be potential threats. Review safety records and maintenance logs for your equipment. You might find this could be a good time to replace some or even all of your forklifts.-

Our goal is to help you operate safe, efficient and productive forklift equipment. To discuss forklift safety, operator training – or to get a quote on new equipment, please contact us at 800-322-5438.

CLARK Material Handling to Add Electric Forklift to S-Series Line-up

Barry Company News, Material Handling News, Product Information , , ,

Building on the success of it’s S-Series internal combustion models, CLARK Material Handling will soon ad to the line-up it’s first S-Series Electric model.

The SE15-25T 3-Wheel model will complement the internal combustion models with many of the features that make the S-Series line-up SMART, STRONG and SAFE.

The SE15-25T, with capacities up to 5,000lbs. electric will be built at CLARK’s Lexington, KY manufacturing facility and a few of the advancements will include:

  • All-electric braking system with regen motor braking
  • Spacious operator compartment
  • Reduced-height overhead guard
  • Industry leading initial step height
  • Great right-angle stacking ability
  • The only OEM with a 5,000lb capacity electric three-wheel
  • Tall and short battery compartment options

CLARK’s new S-SERIES three-wheel electric lift truck extends their legacy with a SMART – STRONG – SAFE lift truck that meets the challenging and changing needs of customers. For use in manufacturing, warehousing, bottling and logistics – along with a variety of other instances – this new electric lift truck may soon become the workhorse you’ve been looking for. And while they are launching it the coming months and really can’t show it to you yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t be one of the first to hear about it! Follow this link and be among the first to get information on this great new truck! Or just scan the QR code below.

Taylor Unveils a World’s First

Barry Company News, Material Handling News, New Forklifts, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Taylor Machine Works builds some of the toughest, most durable and reliable material handling equipment anywhere on Earth, right here in the U.S.A. We are proud to represent Taylor here in Southern California and we are even more proud to be able to join them in presenting the World’s first two all-electric top handlers to the Port of Los Angeles.

The ZLC Series has ZERO EMISSIONS, can run for two shifts on a single charge, fully charge in two hours and handle up to 90,000lbs! See the introduction in the video below which includes the Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and Robert Taylor, President and CEO of Taylor Machine Works.

These are amazing machines and while they are the first two in existence, Taylor is already working on making the next delivery even better.  Eliminating emissions, particularly in Southern California is critical to the environment, our national health and security and we are proud to be part of a group making big strides in electric vehicle technology.

Even more impressive is that all of Taylor Machine Works products are built in America, by Americans in Louisville, Mississippi.  As you might be able to tell, we’re excited about these products and the future of material handling at the Port of Los Angeles, and other ports all around our great country, and perhaps the World.

More pictures of the ZLC.

www.cal-lift.com

Who Created OSHA, Why, and the Outcomes

Barry Regulatory, Safety, Uncategorized , , , , ,

OSHA-Logo-300x298Recently, we shared some information about the effects forty years of OSHA has had on industries. This led to a conversation about the real intents, effects and outcomes of OSHA on the American worker. We thought we would share some of the content of those discussions with you in order to bring a renewed perspective about the agency and what they do every day to ensure people like you, me and our children can go to work and be relatively confident that they will be protected from hazards seen, and sometimes unseen, in their workplace.

To understand any company’s operating philosophy, you must understand their mission. Congress created OSHA to assure safe and healthful conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and compliance assistance.

We won’t belabor a long study of history. But OSHA formed for a reason. While many companies, past and present, do their best to ensure the safety of their employees, there also were, and still are, many that do not place worker safety in high regard. Given that one of the roles of government is to “promote the general welfare” of its citizens, something needed to be done to ensure that all companies were doing the “right thing” when it came to the safety and welfare of their workforce. With that purpose in mind, OSHA was formed and signed into law by President Richard Nixon under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1971.

When OSHA establishes a new regulation, it seeks and receives a tremendous amount of input from the public via RFIs (Requests for Information) and announcements that a new regulation is pending. They consult both large and small businesses to ensure the regulation will not put undue burdens on small businesses and cause them to suffer financially or potentially close. The bottom line is that OSHA has a systematic process to try to balance the need for safety and health with the productivity of business.

Within our industry, OSHA provides educational tools like the Powered Industrial Truck eTool to help businesses understand the dangers of lift trucks and how to ensure that each father, mother, sister and brother who operates one gets home safely each night. This site is packed full of information for the sole purpose of seeing that each person who operates a lift truck knows the dangers of the equipment and has guidance on how to operate it safely within the parameters of their work environment.

The outcome cannot be debated. Since its inception, workplace fatalities and occupational injuries have dropped by 60%. In fact, in 1971, when OSHA was signed into law, workplace fatalities numbered about 14,000 per year. In 2009, even though the American workforce has doubled in size, the number of American deaths due to workplace injury had dropped to 4,400. OSHA has helped businesses accomplish this by creating best practices for any given job, sharing them with other companies through its education process, and enforcing them through inspections.

We perform a tremendous amount of forklift operator training to meet OSHA requirements. When we engage a customer in training, we encourage them not to approach it as simply another hoop government forces us to jump through. While yes, we do recognize that it does place a burden on a business, and there’s no doubt that there have been times when OSHA has not gotten it completely right, we believe OSHA brings value to every American in the workplace.

We have found that companies that provide comprehensive training programs have higher levels of employee satisfaction, leading to better productivity, better care for the equipment they operate, fewer accidents and injuries, and a healthier bottom line for the company. Now that’s a by-product of OSHA we can all live with! Visit our website to learn more about Cal-Lift, Inc., Southern California’s source for material handling equipment, service, parts and rentals.

www.cal-lift.com

Minimizing the Costs of Your Forklift Tires

Barry Forklift Service, Material Handling Equipment, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Your forklift tires are the only thing that stands between thousands of pounds of forklift and the Earth beneath. As many can attest, if you ignore the importance of the tires, bad things can happen including more frequent replacement, increased operating costs, accidents and even injuries. Some experts estimate that forklift tires can account for as much as 30% of a forklift’s operating budget.

Following are a few things you can do to ensure that you have optimized the performance of your forklift tires and are getting the best performance and useful life.

Selecting the right tire

We could write an encyclopedia on this topic as there are many factors to consider. Our best suggestion is to meet with a professional who knows forklift tires (like one of our aftermarket customer support representatives).  A trained professional will consider factors like the types of equipment you operate, what type of surface they are operating on and what are the conditions of operation? Do your forklifts operate on a smooth surface in a temperature-controlled environment, or is the surface rough, gravel, blacktop or is the floor subject to debris? Are your forklifts making frequent turns, never getting to full speed, or do your forklifts frequently make long runs which generate much more heat?

After consulting with you and observing your operation, a professional can suggest tires that will last longer, wear better, resist heat, while maximizing operator comfort.

And if you’re purchasing a new forklift, make sure the right forklift tire is part of the quote. Standard issue tires can work for some operations, but be sure you’re getting the right tire for your operation before you put it into service.

Little known fact: If your forklifts frequently carry loads that are half the rated capacity of the forklift, it puts more pressure on your steer tires as the load up front does not balance out the load of the counterweight.

Keep up the Pressure

Keep tires inflated to the recommended pressure. Over-inflation and under-inflation both cause uneven wear.

Purchase a Premium Tire

We’re not suggesting you simply purchase the most expensive tire. However, purchasing a tire simply because it’s on sale or is the lowest cost alternative, will often end up costing you more in the long-run. After consulting with a professional, there are usually options based upon your operation and budgetary constraints. Finding the BEST tire for your operation, usage, wear and tear, will pay off in the long run. The quality of tire should likely increase with the weight of the load, length of the run and condition of the surface on which it operates.

Match Tires to Application

Use tires that are suitable for the specific conditions of your warehouse, such as cushion tires for indoor use or pneumatic tires for outdoor use.

Rotation and Alignment

  • Regular Rotation: Rotate tires regularly to ensure even wear.
  • Alignment: Ensure the forklift’s alignment is correct to prevent uneven tire wear.

Frequent Inspections

Pre-shift inspections are required by OSHA and tire inspections are part of that process.  Look for things like stress cracks, tread wear and chunking. Knowing how to determine wear on your tires depends upon the type of tire and how the manufacturer determines it is time to replace. When you purchase your forklift tires, be sure the representative explains how to inspect them and when it is time for “re-tirement.” And make that inspection part of your forklift operator training. All your operators should know how to inspect all your forklift tires.

Keep it Clean

Keeping the surface a forklift operates on clean will provide additional useful life of your forklift tires. Metal bands, shrapnel, nails, screws and the like are the obvious enemies of a forklift tire and if your operation is manufacturing, you probably have plenty of debris to consider. Often times a floor sweeper (rider or push) will pay for itself over time in reduced damage to your tires.

In addition to the obvious culprits there are other concerns with operating surface. Dirt and debris can build which can reduce traction of the forklift tires creating a dangerous operating environment. A regular review of your floor can also reduce damaging factors. Things like uneven concrete joints, cracks in pavement or concrete surfaces and dock plates that are un-even or damaged can reduce wear and increase damage. Some customers even consider the condition of the tractor trailer floors. Things like nails in the floors or large splinters in trailer floors can wreak havoc on your forklift tires.

Creating a regular process for purchasing and caring for forklift tires can provide many benefits to safety, productivity and your bottom line. Our Planned Maintenance program can take a lot of these considerations off your hands. Learn more and get a quote customized to your operational needs.

To consult with one of our tire professionals, please contact us at 800-322-5438.

CLARK S-Series Nominated for IFOY 2019

Barry Company News, New Forklifts, Product Information, Uncategorized , , , ,

CLARK IFOY 2019Ismaning near Munich, 14.1.2019. The finalists for this year’s IFOY AWARD (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) are nominated. From the pool of applicants for the seventh round of the world-renowned award the jury will send 15 products and solutions from a dozen manufacturers into the race for the best products and solutions of the year.

The competition will soon enter its second round: The finalists have to undergo the IFOY audit at the international IFOY TEST DAYS at the beginning of March at the IFOY partner CeMAT’s exhibition grounds in Hannover (Germany). In the IFOY Test experts measure the key figures of the finalists in a standardized procedure. In the IFOY Innovation Check renowned scientist assess the innovation value of the nominated products and solutions. This is carried out by specialists from the Dortmund Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), the Chair for Technical Logistics at the University of Dresden, the Chair for Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (fml) at the Technical University of Munich and the Chair for Machine Elements and Technical Logistics at the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg.

As a highlight of the IFOY TEST DAYS jurors from all over Europe, Australia, Brazil, Russia and the US will travel to Hannover to inspect and test the nominated equipment. Among other things the innovation value, technology, design, ergonomics and handling, safety, marketability and customer benefit as well as economy and sustainability will be evaluated. The jury consists of 29 renowned journalists from leading logistics media in 19 countries.

“A golden rule of the IFOY test series is: The finalists are not compared with each other in their respective categories but with their rival trucks or machines on the market. Only those nominees who outperform their direct competitors in terms of innovation have a chance of winning the trophy,” explains Anita Würmser, chairwoman of the IFOY jury.

The trophies will be awarded on April 26 2019. As the IFOY organisation already announced in 2018 the IFOY AWARD Night will take place for the first time in the Hofburg in the Austrian Capital Vienna. In cooperation with LOGISTIK.Kurier and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce the award ceremony will take place during the gala of the Austrian HERMES Transport.Logistics.Award. More than 600 international guests are expected in the traditional Great Festival Hall in the Hofburg among them leading persons in transport, logistics and intralogistics. Until then the result will remain a secret – for both the finalists and the public.

n the counterbalanced truck segment the Clark S25 gas driven forklift with a lifting capacity of 2.5 tons has been nominated for the finals. Tthe S-Series offers low total cost of ownership and significantly higher comfort. The three s (smart, strong and safe) are the core characteristics of the completely newly developed model. Learn more about CLARK’s S-Series.

CLARK Expands Lexington KY Facility

Barry Company News, Material Handling News, Uncategorized , , ,

CLARK employeesLexington, KY – March 5, 2019 – CLARK Material Handling Company, one of the most recognized forklift brands in North America, plans to expand facilities at its North American corporate headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky by adding a third facility to the company’s manufacturing operation. In conjunction with this expansion, CLARK will begin re-shoring to Lexington production of its “heart-of-the-line” internal combustion products, the “S-Series.” Volume production of the S-Series is expected this summer.

“This is the third expansion of CLARK’s Lexington campus in four years,” said Scott Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CLARK. “We completed a new R & D/Engineering Center in 2017, and in 2016 we expanded our manufacturing footprint to include high volume models previously produced in Mexico. To meet the growing demand for the company’s electric and internal combustion products, CLARK will produce nearly 80% of its products in Lexington.”

At a recent groundbreaking ceremony held in Lexington, Dennis Lawrence, CLARK’s President & CEO commented: “This is an important step to position CLARK for the future. This expansion will enable us to improve our operations, drive out waste and reduce lead times. We are excited to be strengthening our investment in the Lexington area. The dedication and productivity of the local workforce is key to helping expand our production capacity. Our expanded facilities are important elements in our desire to exceed customer expectations and fuel global growth.”

About CLARK Material Handling Company

CLARK Material Handling Company has been an industry leader since its production of the first gasoline powered material handling truck in 1917. CLARK is privately held by the Young An Company. CLARK has over 550 locations worldwide with dealer representation in more than 80 countries. A full range of I.C. and Electric trucks for diverse applications are available in the CLARK product line. CLARK was named a Best Place to Work in Kentucky for 2019.

About Cal-Lift

Cal-Lift is a full-service material handling equipment dealership in Southern California. Lift Truck brands include, BYD Lithium Iron Phosphate battery powered forklifts, CLARK Material Handling forklifts, Combilift multi-directional narrow aisle forklifts, Lift Master narrow aisle articulating forklifts and Taylor Big Red, heavy-duty forklifts and container handlers. We also specialize in service and parts for all makes and models of forklifts. In addition, we are the local distributor and servicing company for Kalmar Ottawa yard tractors and spotters. Learn more about Cal-Lift at our website.