Crown has operated Flexi trucks – which are designed and built in the UK by Narrow Aisle Ltd - at the Hull site for over three years and Narrow Aisle is providing the new fleet with a service agreement that includes all planned maintenance, safety inspections and repairs rolled-up in one fixed monthly charge.
And operational efficiency at the Hull facility will be further enhanced thanks to an integrated battery charging solution designed and delivered by Narrow Aisle’s Warehouse Systems Division.
Featuring ‘call-forward’ alert technology to identify the most appropriate fully charged battery when a change is due, the fast charge system will dramatically reduce Crown Paint’s overall energy consumption and minimise truck fleet running costs as each truck needs just two batteries to deliver optimum performance over three shifts.
The new models acquired by Crown are the latest electric-powered Flexi ‘Digital’ units. The trucks have been supplied with a high-definition LCD CCTV system to ensure that Crown’s operators have a clear view of the load and the racking when retrieving and putting away pallets at the highest level.
In addition, the truck’s HiVIS lift mast and specially developed integrated tilting and side shifting fork carriage eliminate mast deflection at the highest lift heights - making pallet movement fast and hugely efficient.
Like all models in the Flexi ‘Digital’ range, the trucks can operate safely both inside and outside the warehouse. This feature eliminates double handling and means that a single Flexi will do the work of two trucks: it unloads or loads vehicles like a counterbalanced truck and operates within the VNA aisleways without needing costly guidance systems or pick and deposit stations at the end of an aisle.
John Maguire, Narrow Aisle Ltd’s managing director, said: “As a leader in the UK decorative coatings market, Crown seeks to continuously improve its manufacturing and operational efficiencies and the decision to invest in additional Flexi articulated truck technology is part of that commitment.
“Having operated Flexis for a number of years, Crown recognise the operational benefits that the machines deliver. Crown see the Flexi name as a brand that they trust and had no hesitation in specifying Flexi trucks again.”
