In fast-paced retail and e-commerce warehouses, time is money. With high product demand and short shelf lives, picking and other warehouse equipment must be reliable and continuously evolve to support high-volume storage and rapid order fulfillment.

This is why Toyota Material Handling, a division of CFAO Equipment, has launched the new Optio L-series Low Level Order Pickers. With a strong focus on ergonomics, productivity and safety, this equipment is designed to meet the ever-changing demands of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), e-commerce and spare parts operations.

The new Optio L-series features a redesigned and improved driver compartment aimed at boosting picking efficiency. The equipment’s easy-to-reach controls, perfectly positioned steering handle and improved foot space ensure greater operator comfort, helping reduce fatigue during long shifts and intense tasks.

Toyota Material Handling Product Specialist, Louis Fourie, says the redesigned steering handle is perhaps the most standout feature of the new Low Level Order Pickers.

“It incorporates intuitive controls for braking and accelerating, as well as lifting, lowering and steering and they are easily operated with one a left or right hand, or both hands. Added to this, the drive wheel always returns to a neutral position when the operator steps off; the steering handle is servo assisted, which means effortless steering in all directions; and it features automatic speed reduction when cornering.”

From an ergonomic perspective, the new Optio L-series has been designed to enhance operator comfort in several ways: it features a larger entrance width, making it easier to get on and off the truck; a low, rounded step-on (130 mm), reducing the risk of tripping; a backrest with ergonomic integrated handles and storage behind the backrest; soft knee pads; and rubber and spring elements that help decrease vibration levels when travelling over bumps or uneven flooring.

“The fast-paced nature of work in FMCG warehouses means operators work long hours and demanding shifts. Equipment that makes their lives easier and reduces the onset of fatigue is vital,” notes Fourie.

With a durable, low weight chassis and an increased platform height allowing for picking of up to 2.8m, the Optio L-series offers numerous safety and sustainability features.

“We take safety seriously at Toyota Material Handling, which is why daytime running lights have been fully integrated in the front cover of the truck and turn on when the operator stands on the truck and is ready to go,” explains Fourie.

An optional extra is reinforced rubber bumpers that protect the machine from collisions and other possible impacts, while blue or red safety lights have been integrated into the truck and turn on when it is operating at 3 km an hour, leading to increased visibility and safety for operators and pedestrians.

The Low Level Order picker boasts low energy consumption, and a re-designed battery compartment means different battery configurations can be accommodated depending on customers’ needs.

The equipment is fitted with Toyota Material Handling’s bespoke telematics system, I_Site, which provides data on machine and driver utilisation, performance analysis and system-level reports via a web portal and mobile app.

“Importantly, this next level equipment is backed up by 24/7 service delivered by our rapid-response field technicians and dedicated workshops throughout the country,” concludes Fourie.