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As warehouses across the country prepare for a busy festive period, a top UK importer of high-quality manual handling equipment has taken steps to facilitate the increase in work by introducing a new range of furniture movers. Pallet Trucks UK, based in the West Midlands, has announced that the three movers are now available to customers through its online store.

With two hydraulic and one mechanical, these new furniture movers will make moving furniture, fridges, and other bulky loads much easier and safer for warehouse workers across the country.

The hydraulic furniture movers come in two options, firstly the FM180A which has a 100mm lift height and features heavy duty non-marking polyurethane wheels, a 1800kg balanced total load capacity and a 5-metre straps to secure the load. Customers can also choose the FM180B, a similarly hydraulic mover that comes with the same features, but with a 250mm lift height making it an ideal solution for the delivering and transporting shelving, cupboards, safes, and other machinery.

The alternative mechanical furniture mover features a 300mm lift height and is fit to carry loads of up to 600kg, making it ideal for removal companies, warehouse workers and other maintenance or installation applications.

The popular lifting accessories come in pairs and can be operated by a single person by positioning the two lower lifting edges of the equipment under the load you wish to lift, securing the pair with the 5-metre strap included in your order and then pumping the levers evenly until the load reaches the correct height to transport.

Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director Phil Chesworth said, “We know from our customers that now is a particularly difficult time for many warehouse managers and workers in the logistics industry, so having a wide range of manual handling equipment to make work easier, safer, and more efficient is vital. I’m happy to be adding these new furniture movers to our catalogue as we’re sure they will become essential products that will help ease the stress during the run up to Black Friday and Christmas for warehouse workers across the country.”

The three products are available now direct from the Pallet Trucks UK website, with delivery to England, Wales, Scotland, and the Scottish Highlands. Customers can also choose to collect their delivery for free from the Pallet Trucks UK warehouse, located at the Pensnett Trading Estate in Kingswinford, West Midlands.

A top UK importer of high quality materials handling equipment is taking the next steps towards facilitating a safe and efficient future for UK warehouses with the introduction of an innovative new order picker. Pallet Trucks UK, a West Midlands-based leader in manual handling tools and accessories, has announced that the 4.5 metre fully electric order picker known as the EOP3-4.5, is now available to UK customers through its online store.

The 300kg capacity equipment provides a working height of up to approximately 6.5 meters, and has been designed and manufactured as a space-saving alternative to portable manual steps used within many warehousing environments. Featuring an integrated telescopic mast, the low profile solution aims to boost production and efficiency while addressing some of the biggest challenges facing warehouses post-Brexit.

Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director Phil Chesworth said, “As a direct result of Brexit, we’ve seen many warehouses stockpiling goods from the European Union and narrowing their aisles to optimise capacity. The introduction of this new fully electric order picker model provides an accessible and affordable solution to the obstacles that are rising as a result of work area limitations, helping operators to sustainably increase pick rate in challenging conditions, achieving faster and more accurate picks without compromising on safety.”

In addition to facilitating a more efficient future, Pallet Trucks UK is also making it easier for warehouses to increase safety within the workplace by selecting a product with extensive integrated safety features. The EOP3-4.5 boasts a spacious 650x690mm platform size for optimal operator stability during picking, and automatically reduces the maximum driving speed from 4 km/h when lowered to a slower 1.5 km/h while raised. The equipment also includes a drop valve, which enables the operator to override the system and manually lower the platform should an emergency situation arise.

While the EOP3-4.5 has been imported by Pallet Trucks UK from Europe, charging the order picker is simple with a standard UK plug and single phase 240v supply. All orders include an EC Declaration of Conformity which demonstrates that the equipment meets all relevant product safety directives, and a LOLER certificate which confirms that the EOP3-4.5 adheres to strict Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations and criteria.

The 4.5 metre fully electric order picker is available now direct from the Pallet Trucks UK website, with delivery to England, Wales, Scotland, and the Scottish Highlands. Customers can also choose to collect the EOP3-4.5 from the Pallet Trucks UK warehouse, located at the Pensnett Trading Estate in Kingswinford, West Midlands.

Following a series of testing and deliberations, the HSE has decided against including a maximum weigh limit for pallets into the official HSE guidelines amid fears that doing so may be overly disruptive for the distribution sector.

Despite thorough considerations, with particular emphasis being placed on the importance of maintaining high levels of safety for workers, it was concluded that such requirements could be served adequately through the use of individual risk assessments conducted by transport operators.

Throughout the stages of the debate, which ensued for two years, a number of maximum weights were suggested, including 750kg, which would have applied to both good’s originators and transport operators.

After deeming it to be the responsibility of those in control of transport operations to ensure that high levels of safety are being met, the HSE has asked for a guidance covering safe handling and best practice for deliveries via pallets to be drawn up by an industry working, which is chaired by the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

Phil Chesworth, managing director of Pallet Trucks UK and its parent, the Midland Group of Companies says, “Maintaining high levels of safety for those working with loaded pallets is important, but there is nothing to say that heavier pallets are any more dangerous than those with light loads. Setting a pallet weight limit could be debilitating to workforces and it is also important to recognise that any limit would need to take into account the various different conditions that pallets are used in.

“The safety benefits of doing so would be minimal and would be better served by ensuring that the proper precautions are taken when handling pallets. Pallet Weighing Scales offer a plethora of benefits and are ideally suited to applications where pallet scales are not suitable.

“We are a materials handling supplier and work across a wide range of businesses and industries and our heavy pallet trucks are robust enough to deliver high-performance, long-lasting qualities for any type of industry.”

The British Chambers of Commerce’s director general has spoken out this week to warn the government that the Brexit deliberations could have potentially catastrophic consequences for UK firms. The notice came as it emerged some businesses were facing the biggest recruitment problem they’d experienced in almost a quarter of a century, with many companies up and down the country grappling with widening skills shortages.

Construction, hospitality, agriculture and manufacturing were some of the industries thought to be struggling with personnel shortages as uncertainties over work permits, visa and lower levels of immigration were all named as road blocks – leaving many firms facing a looming crisis. The British Chambers of Commerce’s director general also suggested that UK manufacturers may soon opt to invest in their factories overseas rather than at home, potentially unsettling the recent surge in UK manufacturing output.

Phil Chesworth, managing director of Pallet Trucks UK and its parent, the Midland Group of Companies says, “In some ways, a lack of candidates for recruitment could be seen as a positive as one of the reasons for this is record levels of British employment in recent times. However, for those businesses who are finding it harder than ever to find skilled workers, there is a very real threat of falling productivity and with it, falling profits. The manufacturing sector in particular could be especially hard hit which is such a shame on the back of it recent surge.

“As a materials handling supplier we work with manufacturers and other businesses across a broad spectrum of industries and, one thing that we would urge is to consider where materials handling equipment can help fill that gap. Where forklift truck drivers need official training and certification for example, a pallet truck handler does not. A heavy duty pallet truck can be a real workhorse and while it isn’t a replacement for a fork lift, it is a hardworking, productive and efficient alternative that doesn’t require a certified user and can keep products moving.

“Low profile pallet trucks are another option – they are specifically designed to move loads that would traditionally have been handled by a counterbalanced forklift.”

Pallet Trucks UK has applauded 2 Sisters Food Group for its latest enhancement to its Flixton site, which will create 100 more jobs on top of its current workforce which processes around 1 million birds per week.

Roles in engineering, finance, training and health and safety have been created as part of the expansion, which has been done to keep up with orders during the busy Christmas period and beyond.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “It’s great to see so many new jobs being created in the area. We’re always happy to see new manufacturing positions on the market, but it’s interesting to see that there’s a diverse array of roles in areas that you might not usually expect in a factory environment.”

2 Sisters was blighted earlier in the year after a food hygiene scandal engulfed its West Bromwich plant. An undercover investigation by ITV and The Guardian showed 2 Sisters workers displaying a blatant disregard for food hygiene practice by labeling food incorrectly, picking food up after it had been on the floor and mixing batches of meat.

A huge media frenzy ensued after the footage was made public, causing 2 Sisters to close the plant whilst an investigation took place. 2 Sisters officials were also called into a parliamentary inquiry as a result of the expose.

Phil added: “After the scandal that happened earlier in the year it’s fantastic to hear some good news from 2 Sisters. The company employs a lot of people and hopefully this expansion can go towards rebuilding their reputation.”

Pallet Trucks UK supplies a multitude of manual handling equipment to food factories across the country, with its vast product catalogue including pallet trucks, moving skates, aerial work platforms, forklift fork extensions and more.

Pallet Trucks UK has urged businesses to prioritise worker safety after a dreadful accident caused a pallet to fall on a freight worker, leaving him with devastating spinal injuries and robbing him of his ability to walk.

Andrew Potts, 53, was working as a freight checker for United Pallet Network in Lichfield when the pallet holding glass fell off a curtain-sided lorry and crushed him. This came after Andrew had previously attempted to stabilize the pallets using a forklift truck a few moments earlier.

Previously a fully able man, Mr Potts has now been reduced to having to use a mobility scooter to travel more than a few feet and is completely reliant on his wife for household activities such as cooking and cleaning.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “This is a really catastrophic injury which has robbed an unfortunate worker of his freedom. Going from being a fully able-bodied person to having to use a mobility scooter is devastating for both the victim and his family.

“The worst part about this injury is that it could’ve been avoided; it sounds like the pallet was in a precarious position to start with which is unacceptable in any case, but made even worse by the fact that a lack of attention to safety has cost a man his independence.”

As well as causing excruciating spinal fractures, Mr Potts suffered multiple broken bones and damaged teeth from the accident. He is now suing the owners of the lorry, Lescost Transport Ltd, for damages in excess of £200,000.

Mr Pott’s lawyers state that’s he’s been badly psychologically affected by the accident, and suffers from depression and anxiety as a result of being unable to look after himself and perform simple actions such as climbing stairs.

Phil added: “Some pallets are extremely heavy and it isn’t surprising how severe Mr Pott’s injuries are if the pallet fell on him from height, especially if it was holding a product on top of it as well.”

Pallet Trucks UK stocks a huge array of manual handling equipment used by freight workers and other materials handling professionals, including pallet trucks, moving skates, lift tables, forklift fork extensions, drum loaders and more.

In light of horrifying weather forecasts showing that the UK is set to be engulfed by multiple blizzards, freezing fogs and lethal ice sheets, Pallet Trucks UK has urged businesses to ensure the safety of their workers by using galvanized steel pallet trucks.

Galvanised and stainless-steel pallet trucks are much safer for outdoor workers due to their advanced atomic formation, making them resistant to the severe snow, frost, rain and wind that is set to batter Britain in the coming weeks.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “These weather forecasts make for some truly worrying reading; blizzards, ice and snow of these levels will make outdoor work extremely hazardous during the upcoming winter period.

“Workers using regular pallet trucks to move heavy loads outside will be at increased risk of their truck snapping due to rust, which of course can create potentially life-threating accidents considering pallet trucks are used to carry loads weighing thousands of kilograms.”

Galvanized steel pallet trucks have a different atomic make-up to regular trucks that makes them invincible to rust. A special zinc coating is applied to the exterior of the truck, creating a resistant barrier that prevents the steel being eaten away by extreme weather.

Pallet trucks made of stainless steel are also resistant to the elements due to them containing chromium, an element which reacts with air and water to form an outer shield which protects the metal from being corroded.

Phil added: “It’s imperative that when these brutal weather conditions hit the UK managers equip their workers with galvanized and stainless-steel pallet trucks to keep them safe over the Christmas period.”

Many workers in Britain use pallet trucks outdoors as part of their job roles, with dock workers, food manufacturing professionals and construction workers often having to move heavy loads outside on a daily basis.

As well as being ideal for outdoor use, galvanised and stainless-steel pallet trucks are also useful for pharmaceutical environments, fisheries and food factories due to their heightened resistance to acidic and corrosive materials.

Pallet Trucks UK stocks a wide range of galvanized and stainless steel products ideal for use in extreme weather, including hand pallet trucks with a huge weight capacity of 2000kg and wide galvanised trucks capable of moving larger-than-average pallets.

Pallet Trucks UK has urged materials handling professionals not to be alarmed by a futuristic new project that could see them sharing their workplaces with autonomous robotic workers in the future.

The new ILIAD (Intra-Logistics with Integrated Automatic Deployment) project has been devised by scientists to create entire new fleets of robots called AGVs (automatic guidance vehicles) which will perform tasks such as transporting goods on forklift trucks and pallet jacks as well palletising duties.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “News such as this naturally causes alarm amongst people who may work with forklifts or pallet jacks on a daily basis; who wants their job to be taken by a robot?

“It’s for this reason we’d like to remind workers in our field the focus of the ILIAD project is to create fleets of robots to work alongside humans, not replace them. Secondly, the project is still very much in its research phase at the moment, so don’t expect to be turning up to work and meeting a new robotic colleague anytime soon.”

A key requirement of the ILIAD project is that the robots will be ‘self-aware’ and able to detect, track and predict the behaviour of their human counterparts, and work with them to speed up processes and increase efficiency. Each AGV will also be self-optimizing and able to learn from its own collected data, making fleets of the new AI workers fully scaleable with the option of adding new ones to the fleet at any time.

ILIAD has been developed by robotics specialists from the UK, Sweden, Italy and Germany as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 fund, and includes the collaboration of experts from universities across the continent.

Phil added: “The emergence of a new robotic workforce could actually be beneficial to us as it may create less strenuous work for humans and mean fewer injuries for forklift drivers and materials handling professionals.

“The rise of AI will also create new jobs in itself as there will need to be a whole new wave of repair specialists to fix the robots when faults and malfunctions occur, so it’s certainly nothing to be worried about in the foreseeable future.”

Although the aim of ILIAD is to create robots able to work in a multitude of industries, the AGVs are to be initially trialled in the food sector due to its challenging requirements including short shelf-life products, high wastage costs and traceability needs.

Pallet Trucks UK currently supplies a vast variety of manual handling equipment to the food sector such as forklift fork extensions and hand pallet trucks, as well as a wide range of other materials handling goods such as moving skates, sack trucks and lift tables.

Pallet Trucks UK has urged those organising Bonfire Night attractions for the upcoming weekend to consider the environment when enjoying the festivities.

Wooden pallets have become a favoured fuel of choice for bonfires over recent years, with the load-bearing platforms being stacked in huge numbers to create massive fires. Whilst they might create a dazzling spectacle, this is detrimental to the environment and only results in further deforestation across the globe.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “Bonfire Night is amazing, especially for young children seeing the fireworks and sparklers for the first time. It’s worth remembering however that burning wooden pallets on Bonfire Night is a somewhat wasteful choice that fuels deforestation in many countries.

“Wooden pallets are 100% recyclable, and even if they’re damaged or broken the wood can be remade into everything from fences and sheds to tables and chairs. Why not burn waste materials for bonfire night, or replace the fire altogether with even more fireworks?”

Hundreds of millions of pallets are in circulation around the world and although the wood for much of these is sustainably sourced, logging companies continue to destroy forests and jungles across the globe in order to create wood for pallets.

The current rate of deforestation means that, shockingly, an area equal to 20 football fields is lost every minute, and the loss of forests contributes to between 12% and 17% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

Phil added: “Our planet’s resources are the most precious commodity we have, and taking steps to protect our environment now means our grandchildren can enjoy many more Bonfire Nights for years to come.”

Pallet Trucks UK stocks a vast range of pallet trucks used to move wooden, plastic and low-profile pallets across the UK. The Midlands-based company stocks hundreds of models including heavy duty trucks that can move loads of over 5000kg and galvanized and stainless-steel trucks suitable for use in harsh environments.

Also included in Pallet Truck UK’s massive product catalogue are a plethora of others manual handling equipment goods, including moving skates, stackers, lift tables, drum loaders, platform lifts and more.

Pallet Trucks UK has made the lives of materials handling professionals across Britain easier by bolstering its already enormous range of manual handling equipment with a collection of brand new low-profile pallet trucks.

Workers have traditionally only been able to move low-profile pallets with counterbalanced forklifts, a problem which Pallet Trucks UK is seeking to eradicate with its latest product offerings.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “Our latest additions provide an easy fix to professionals who work with low pallets. These are very low to the floor, and often the only thing low enough to get under the slats in order to move them are forklift forks.

“We knew that this was a problem which affects hundreds of people in warehouses, factories and building sites across the country. We’ve brought a much quicker, simpler solution into the fray which can save businesses valuable time and effort when moving loads.”

Pallet Trucks UK has brought a variety of low-profile products to the table, including pallet trucks specifically designed to carry wide loads, heavy-duty trucks which can carry weights of up to 2000kg and a super-low profile pallet truck able to lift loads that are a mere 36mm off the ground.

In addition to being able to get under low pallets, Pallet Truck UK’s low-profile pallet trucks are also ideal for moving stillages and disposable pallets, which are being used more and more in the UK.

Phil added: “You’ll often see people in warehouses and distribution centres trying to force regular pallet trucks under low-bearing pallets, which can risk breaking both the pallet and the product on it, as well as the pallet truck itself. This can cost businesses time and money, and our low-profile pallet trucks are the perfect solution to that.”

As well as stocking a vast range of pallet trucks at its Midlands-based distribution centre, Pallet Trucks UK also carries a plethora of other manual handling equipment including forklift extensions, stackers, lift tables and more.