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In light of the surging demand for warehouse staff across the UK, as revealed by the Office for National Statistics, Pallet Trucks UK, a leading provider of material handling equipment, underscores its role in providing high-quality solutions that address labour shortages and enhance warehouse operations.

The Office for National Statistics released data revealing a 43.2% rise in demand for warehouse staff post-pandemic. This revelation underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies. Pallet Trucks UK is urging businesses in the logistics sector to recognise the role that material handling equipment can play in alleviating these challenges and boosting efficiency despite a lack of workers. 

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK, says, “It’s clear to see that the demand for skilled workers is outpacing supply. Here at Pallet Trucks UK, we’re focused on providing high-quality material handling equipment to empower businesses to improve their productivity and bridge labour gaps”.

Pallet Trucks UK’s product collection includes a range of equipment such as manual pallet trucks, high-lift pallet trucks, and weighing scale pallet trucks. These tools are designed to help businesses to streamline their material handling processes, allowing them to minimise the need for manual effort. As a result, the burden on employees is reduced, yet workplace efficiency is still enhanced.

Pallet Trucks UK acknowledges that while temporary staff can indeed provide short-term relief, it’s vital that businesses consider alternative solutions in order to thrive in the long run. The company’s material handling solutions are not just about providing immediate assistance. They represent strategic investments that can help warehouses meet their targets while achieving consistent results.

In an industry marked by fluctuating labour shortages, Pallet Trucks UK remains committed to helping businesses improve their operations. Their commitment to providing innovative material handling solutions demonstrates their reliability in ensuring that businesses can weather the storm of labour shortages and emerge more resilient.

A renowned provider of pallet trucks and material handling solutions, Pallet Trucks UK, commends Tata Group’s decision to invest over £4 billion in the construction of a gigafactory in the United Kingdom. This project demonstrates confidence in the resilience of the UK’s supply chain and showcases the country’s appeal for foreign investments.

The creation of Tata Group’s Gigafactory – which will be one of the largest in Europe – highlights the UK’s dedication to reaching its Net Zero target by prioritising the construction of zero-emission vehicles. The investment is expected to generate up to 4,000 direct job opportunities and thousands more in the wider supply chain, making a substantial contribution to the UK economy and its workforce.

To ensure productivity and sustainability within the automotive sector, Pallet Trucks UK is emphasising the significance of the use of efficient material handling fleets, such as regular pallet trucks, high-lift pallet trucks, and weighing-scale pallet trucks. As the gigafactory gears up for production in 2026, Pallet Trucks UK anticipates a surge in demand for high-quality material handling fleets to facilitate the assembly and distribution of batteries and components.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK, says, “Efficiency is the driving force behind every successful venture. Just as Tata Group’s visionary investment in the UK’s gigafactory sparks growth and opportunity, our commitment at Pallet Trucks UK is to provide the essential tools that support productivity and growth within the automotive sector.”

Pallet trucks, being an integral part of material handling, are instrumental in enhancing productivity and reducing operational costs. These indispensable tools enable seamless movement of heavy loads, optimising internal logistics processes and minimising downtime. As businesses associated with the gigafactory and other manufacturing units strive to stay competitive, investing in high-quality pallet trucks to enhance their material handling capabilities is expected to become a priority.

Pallet Trucks UK – a renowned direct importer of pallet trucks, stackers, and manual handling accessories – is proud to announce the launch of its latest line of products. These additions to the company’s extensive inventory demonstrate their commitment to providing customers with high-quality equipment at budget-friendly prices.

The new range includes the following:

1.    300kg Steel Drum Cradle (DF10): The DF10 is a heavy-duty drum cradle meticulously crafted to facilitate the effortless tipping and draining of up to 200-litre drums with the convenience of one-person operation. Constructed from sturdy tubular steel, this cradle boasts a remarkable 300kg capacity and features retractable handles for ease of use.

2.    Stainless Steel Weigh Scale Pallet Truck 2000kg/0.5kg: This stainless steel weigh scale pallet truck enables the user to weigh loads on the spot, allowing for maximum efficiency and accurate weight measurements. With a weight capacity of 2000kg and a precision of 0.5kg, this pallet truck is an indispensable tool for streamlined warehouse operations.

3.    SD55A 300kg Steel Drum Trolley, SD55B 400kg Steel Drum Trolley & SD55C 300kg Stainless Steel Drum Trolley: Engineered for use with most 205-litre steel drums and 220-litre plastic drums, these steel drum trolleys offer exceptional manoeuvrability with their four 75mm swivel polyamide castors.

4.    MT001 Large Low Profile Rotating Manual Turntable & MT002 Low Profile Rotating Manual Turntable: Ideal for sealing and wrapping palletised loads, the MT001and MT002 turntables are designed to be used with a hand pallet truck. They have a low-profile design that facilitates the easy placement of pallets onto the turntables, while the full 360-degree rotation capability and foot-locking device ensure maximum convenience

5.    Media Roller Lifter PR4008: Catering to sign makers and businesses handling media rolls, this lifter accommodates rolls up to 2500mm in width and 400mm in diameter. Featuring 360-degree multi-direction wheels with brakes, nylon straps for roll security, and user-friendly foot pump and hand control mechanisms, the PR4008 is a versatile solution for smooth media roll handling.

6.    Media Roller Lifter PR4012: Designed with larger media rolls in mind, the PR4012 media roller lifter can lift up to 400kg and supports rolls up to 5000mm in width and 400mm in diameter.

7.    SHS150 Mini Hand Stacker: Equipped with adjustable forks and a remarkable lifting capacity of 150kg, the SHS150 allows users to lift loads up to 870mm high, simplifying loading processes for vans and cars.

Pallet Trucks UK’s latest product line-up exemplifies the company’s dedication to innovation and customer-centricity. By delivering top-quality products, the company aims to drive the success of their  customers in an increasingly competitive market.

Warehouses are extremely busy places, which can lead many warehouse managers to ignore the importance of regular manual handling maintenance. One specialist provider of warehouse equipment is encouraging managers to put regular maintenance at the top of their priority list.

Pallet trucks are an essential piece of equipment that is found in warehouses across the country. Used for manoeuvring pallets around a warehouse, aiding the order picking process and facilitating speedy delivery for retailers and customers, they are crucial for a smooth-running warehouse. However, when regular hand pallet truck maintenance is not carried out, you could be reducing their performance and life.

Many companies don’t realise the impact on operations that faulty equipment could have. Not only are poorly maintained pallet trucks more likely to break or suffer in performance, but they could also pose a serious health and safety risk to your employees. Pallet Trucks UK is encouraging all managers to conduct regular maintenance to comply with health and safety regulations and so they can quickly identify potential issues that could compromise the safety of their employees.

“Without manual handling equipment, many warehouses will completely cease to function so it’s important that managers do whatever they can to keep their equipment working correctly for as long as possible. Not only is your reputation at risk if you’re unable to fulfil orders due to broken down equipment, but you’re also putting your employees at. Regular maintenance is incredibly important, and something that should never be neglected in the warehouse,” comments Phil Chesworth, the Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK.

Pallet Trucks UK provides a range of fully electric pallet trucks, scissor lift platforms, and weighing scale pallet trucks that can be trusted by warehouse managers across the country. Whether managers are running a small operation or a multi-centre warehouse complex, they can rely on Pallet Trucks UK to provide professional equipment, whatever the industry.

Despite extreme pressures and setbacks faced by the logistics industry over the course of the pandemic, new reports have shown that companies have been able to successfully adapt and weather the storm, which has been applauded by materials handling equipment provider, Pallet Trucks UK.

According to the latest industry reports that reflect on the past 12 months, the logistics sector remains one of the most consistent contributors to the UK economy, proving that many players within the industry have been successful in their attempts to combat the varying issues they have faced as a result of the pandemic.

“There aren’t many industries that would be able to withstand the pressures and setbacks that the logistics industry faced throughout the pandemic but to see the amount of adaption and flexibility shown is a great example of just how great this industry is,” comments Phil Chesworth, the Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK.

“Warehouses, in particular, have found new and innovative ways to manage stock levels, ensure speedy delivery to customers across the country, and have found new ways to provide world-class services for retailers and manufacturers who rely on a strong supply chain.”

These latest reports paint a positive picture for companies within the logistics industry, including materials handling equipment specialists, Pallet Trucks UK, which stock a range of high-performance, fully electric pallet trucks, scissor lift platforms and weighing scale pallet trucks.  

Although uncertain conditions and rising demand continue to cause some disruption for the industry, given the adaptability shown in the face of the pandemic, there is definitely no reason to not be optimistic about the coming few months and years ahead.

The warehouse and logistics industry is one that thrives on efficiency and safety. Thanks to Pallet Trucks UK, a leading supplier of pallet trucks and manual handling equipment, warehouses up and down the country have been able to optimise workloads and increase productivity, without compromising on staff safety.

The manual handling retailer has become the go-to supplier of equipment for warehouses across the UK. With a comprehensive range of items, affordable pricing, and speedy delivery options, they have become one of the UK’s leading importers and stockists of all types of warehouse equipment.

The online store offers a comprehensive range of hand pallet trucks, lift tables, and manual stacker trucks for various applications within the warehouse. By keeping up with increased orders, changing customer demands, and supply chain disruption, warehouses will be able to better organise their workflow with the help of efficient manual handling equipment.

Pallet Trucks UK is passionate about providing high-quality, durable equipment that is built to last – no matter how intensive warehouse work is. All products come with a 12-month warranty and the equipment provider encourages all customers to perform regular maintenance checks on their equipment to ensure that it’s suitable for use.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK says, “Without the right equipment, warehouses simply can’t stay productive and efficient. Our site is designed as a one-stop shop for everything that a warehouse manager could need to keep their operations on track and targets met.”

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.”