Description

Innovations

Market trend is for higher lifting reach trucks and therefore higher levels of order picking. Four years ago the maximum height was at eight to nine meters. The project ambition was to create a 10.5 m platform height providing 12.1 m picking. The result is an improved performance in comparison with former models as well a with competitors. 1250 kg capacity at 600 mm load centre means plus 200 mm compared with the competitors.

EPH vs. UniCarriers Jungheinrich Linde Still Toyota
Drive speed +42% +14% -7.7% -7.7% equal
Lift speed +68% +8.1% +11.1% +5.2% +6.6%
Lowering speed +13% +13% +22.8% +22.8% -4.4%

The cabin as the operators’ office should be equipped in an appropriate way. For this reason the EPH provides more space for all types of optional equipment, like writing desk, computer terminal, pens and sticky tape, bar code scanners, picking lists or pick labels.

Intense operations need high ergonomics and high levels of comfort. For this reason the EPH also provides a softer platform floor, dampened lowering, adjustable controls and adjustable seat to fit all operators. The controls can be adjusted on either the fork or mast side or both sides.
Instead of a dead-man function a floor presence sensor recognizes an operator is on the truck. This means a much more comfortable position for the operator.
A high-effective picking process on the first storage level is guaranteed by the pro access gates. And finally the truck design with its clear view masts provides an 360 degrees visibility.

Market relevance

The last years has seen an increasing demand to provide order pickers up to 12,000 mm. In addition capacity at 600mm load centre is essential for a global market.
It is vital that any truck elevating operators to these heights operates so safely, smoothly and quickly without sudden movements or surprises. To the operator, total confidence is vital and confidence promotes good performance.

For safety reasons the truck may not be operated without the operator standing on the platform. For this reason the platform is a presence sensor which will allow truck operation once the presence sensor is activated. To ensure this safety method is always functioning, at first daily switch on the drivers must move their feet to the edges of the platform and then back to the centre. This allows the sensor to calibrate and allow operation, otherwise the truck will not function.

For smooth movements the lift, lower and drive functions are speed controllable by the operator. Finally the last part of the cabin lowering is dampened for smoothness.
As far as driving and lifting is concerned it is possible to do both when in rail or wire guided aisles. Once a guidance is recognised the operator can drive and lift at the same time. The stability of the EPH is such that high speeds are maintained at high levels. This speed is however weight related. Speeds reduce as weight increases and increase as weight reduces.
In addition to all the above UniCarriers set the goal for a higher lifting heavier duty machine than the former OPS model and all the competitors.

Customer benefits

levels, previously unattainable and without by reducing the load centre to 400mm, which compromises capacity.
Pallets around the world are 800, 1,000 and 1,200 deep so 600mm load centre is the most flexible for loads up to 1,200 mm deep.
Picking at such heights must be done with same efficiency as at lower levels. The EPH speed performance at height, combined with the safety at height allows UniCarriers customers to achieve this level of efficiency.
Order picking is time consuming and the most labour intensive of all the materials handling functions. The efficient utilization of people, time and equipment is paramount.
By utilizing available height we can be more efficient with the utilization of space. This reduces time required for order picking by reducing travel distances and minimizes warehouse storage costs. When order picking in guided aisles it is difficult to pick from ground level if the safety gates have to be constantly raised and lowered.
The standard EPH is fitted with safety gates that do not have to be closed until a platform height of 1200 mm is reached. This speeds up picking from ground level. Once elevation reaches 1200 mm then the safety gates must be closed otherwise the truck will not function.
The time saved per pick at every ground level averages three seconds. Where labour is intensive and time is money this singular function contributes to performance and the lowering of costs.