A recently introduced articulated forklift truck promises heightened agility, improved precision and elevated safety standards for warehouse operations.

The Vector-A series Man-Up Combi from Toyota Material Handling, a division of CFAO Equipment South Africa (SA), features high rack handling capabilities and is designed to lift operators up to the level of the racks, allowing for more precise and comfortable handling of goods or order picking from different rack levels.

CFAO Equipment SA national technical manager Stephen Mostert says the introduction of the truck aims to bolster the efficiency and safety of its customers’ warehouse operations. 

“The Vector A-series comes into its own when the lifting gets heavy. With heavy loads, it’s imperative to keep steady, and that’s exactly where the Vector A-series shines. With all models featuring triplex masts with low collapsed heights, and three-way forks, the articulated four-wheel chassis of the Vector A-series boasts exceptional stability during top-line operation, while minimising the aisle space needed for transfers between aisles,” he asserts.

Mostert explains that this contributes to a lighter overall weight because there is a decreased need for counterweight stability. Incorporating robust twin-drive motors, the machine is said to yield superior performance and shortened work-cycle durations, which results in faster picking times.

The machine’s staggered quadset support wheels are designed to provide a smoother ride capable of counteracting floor defects, as well as prolonging the lifespan of the polyurethane wheels.

“The unique pivot point of the Vector A-series range allows it to navigate through aisles that are narrower (by more than a metre) than those required by non-articulated trucks. This facilitates the provision of an additional four pallet positions on each level within an aisle. This allows it to lift heights of over 16.8 m with a load capacity of 1 000 kg in the case of the VCE150A model. In doing so it unlocks the potential to increase storage height negating the need to expand floor space,” adds Mostert.

 The new forklift truck features Toyota Material Handling’s Advanced Lifting System, designed to decrease the battery energy needed to lift the cabin and load. This allows for up to 30% of the energy required to lift a load to be regenerated during lowering, facilitating two shifts on a single charge.

The cockpit is designed to offer the operator as clear a view as possible in all directions and incorporates technologies to enhance cabin comfort and improve safety and efficiency.

A large human-machine interface features a colour touch display for improved interactivity between operator and machine. The interface displays information, such as current lift height and navigation, as well as fork load, position and direction.

The forklift also incorporates Toyota Material Handling’s personal protection system that is designed to detect obstructions such as shelving and personnel, bringing the truck to a stand-still in the case of impediments. The truck features advanced stability sensors to prevent it from tipping over, as well as a dual hands-on human detection system that requires the operator to have both hands on the controls to operate.