Tag Archives: manual handling equipment

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.

Pallet Trucks UK has applauded the compassionate spirit of freight workers after they joined forces to deliver goods to Children in Need’s CarFest charity events. The drivers banded together to deliver 27 pallets of stock to CarFest North in Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire and CarFest South at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire.

The CarFest events are weekend festivals that have raised a whopping £7.4m for Children in Need since they began, with this year’s festivals playing host to a range of big-name music stars such including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Busted, Manic Street Preachers and Rick Astley.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “It’s fantastic and heart-warming to see workers across our industry taking time out of their own lives to help Children in Need.

“I’m aware that workers from multiple different firms teamed up together to form a transport link and delivered stock to both the CarFest festival in the north of the country as well as the southern event in Hampshire. From the pictures on the CarFest website it looks like everyone had a brilliant time!”

Companies involved in the charity efforts include Somerset-based logistics firm Just Vans Ltd, KRL from Telford, Newtonabbey-based Montgomery Transport and Andover-based AET Transport. This is the third consecutive year that the firms have got involved with helping to provide goods for CarFest.

CarFest’s event organisers called upon the firms to collect 27 pallets of stock and deliver them to their event showgrounds in order to ensure the festivals lived up to their reputation of being a fun-filled weekend packed with an array of attractions. The freight workers took up the call with gusto and delivered 15 pallets to CarFest North and 12 pallets to CarFest South, with the pallets also being collected and taken back to warehouses after the festivals had ended. Naturally, this was all done completely free of charge.

Phil added: “Children in Need is a brilliant charity and has changed the lives of thousands of young and disabled people since it was created; a huge well done to everyone involved with this year’s CarFest festivals and Children in Need.”

Children in Need is an iconic and well-known UK charity owned by the BBC that has raised over £600m for disabled children and young people in the UK. The charity holds an annual telethon every year to raise money for its cause, with the 2017 event scheduled to be broadcast later this year on November 17, 2017.

Pallet Trucks UK provides a vast range of manual handling equipment to the logistics industry including moving skates, heavy duty and galvanized steel pallet trucks, forklift fork extensions and lift tables.

Pallet Trucks UK has paid tribute to the industrial spirit of workers in Britain after the manufacturing and industrial sectors smashed expectations in August, causing the pound to rise in value.

Figures recently released in October show that total production output in the industrial sector was 1.6 per cent higher in August than a year before, beating expectations of a 0.8 per cent increase. Output in manufacturing, which is the largest portion of the industrial production figure, also defied the odds with an increase of 2.8% against a forecast of 1.9%.

This caused sterling’s value to increase by 0.3 per cent against the dollar to $1.3184 as well as edging 0.01 per cent higher against the euro to €1.1193.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “Seeing the value of the pound climb thanks to the vital work of everyone involved in the manufacturing and industrial sectors is brilliant news for both the industries themselves and the country as a whole.

“The task now for us is to carry on as we have done and build on the brilliant progress we’ve made to ensure a vibrant and prosperous future for manufacturing in the UK.”

News of the increase in the pound’s value thanks to the manufacturing and industrial sectors follows on from encouraging data from September, which showed the UK’s manufacturing industry recording its first “significant” month of growth this year in July. July saw a production expansion of 0.5% driven by a sharp 13.7% increase in car production, which was the fastest rise recorded in official data on the car industry since March 2009.

Phil added: “There seems to be an upward trend of manufacturing and industrial productivity in the UK since July, and hopefully we can carry on in the same vein up until Christmas and into the new year.”

The construction industry also defied expectations, albeit to a lesser degree, after it saw 0.6% month-on-month in August 2017 against predictions of 0% growth, with the surprise rise growth being predominantly driven by a 1.7% rise in all new work.

Pallet Trucks UK supplies a wide array of manual handling equipment to the construction industry, including equipment such as forklift extensions and hydraulic jacks used to lift weights of 25 tonnes.

Many of the company’s wares are also used in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, with pallet trucks being vital in ensuring continued product outflow at factories and moving skates used being used to move weights of up to 80 tonnes safely and securely.

Pallet Trucks UK, one of the UK’s leading manual handling equipment providers, has warned warehouses over the UK that Brexit could lead to a shortage of staff in the period leading up to Christmas.

“The pound has fallen lower and lower against the Euro, and overseas workers simply don’t want to work in the UK anymore,” said Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK. “Plenty of temporary warehouse staff that are taken on for the Christmas rush are from overseas, and a lack of workers could mean that Christmas this year grinds to a halt.”

Last year, 73% of customers bought online for the Christmas season. All those orders had to be picked, packaged, and sent out; naturally, the rate of returns was also higher, and those items had to be sorted through too.

It seems that every year Christmas sales increase online, and with fewer workers brands and warehouses will find it difficult to get everything packed on time. No brand wants to be accused by an angry customer of “ruining” their Christmas, but at an emotionally fraught and busy time, mistakes are made. There’s the chance this year that the mistakes will be more and more common, leading to angry customers and plunging profits.

“Warehouses have the chance to put a plan into action now about how they will deal with staff shortages, before their competitors do,” added Phil Chesworth. “They could offer more benefits, extra training, or more guaranteed jobs after Christmas, but those who don’t do anything will feel the strain.”

With the news that Amazon have filed a patent for underwater warehouses[1], Pallet Trucks UK, one of the leading names in manual handling equipment, has warned workers not to neglect the current state of the warehousing market in favour of an uncertain future.

“Towards the end of last year, Amazon said they would deploy airships as warehouses,” said Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK. “While that may become a reality in a number of years, there are so many things to consider than the design of the ship or how an underwater warehouse would work.”

The dangers and potential mistakes inherent in having airships positioned above prominent cities, or dropping items into pools of water, are apparent, but they are typically ignored when reported on because of Amazon’s contributions to the warehousing industry.

Warehousing must not get carried away by a potential future when it has so much going on in the present; workers are still the backbone of logistics, and while airships and pools theoretically sound like good ideas, there is always the chance that they will break. If humans are discounted from the process entirely, there is a good chance that the mistake will not be noticed for some time.

The present of the warehousing industry lies in good workers and good tools which are up to the job, and not in a potential future that discounts workers entirely.

“Employers have to ensure that they treat their workers with the same respect with which they treat potential Amazon products,” added Phil Chesworth.

[1] https://www.dezeen.com/2017/07/10/amazon-files-patent-underwater-warehouses/

One of the industry’s most recognizable names in manual handling equipment, Pallet Trucks UK, have today officially launched their summer sale. With hundreds of high quality models and makes of warehouse favourites in stock, they’ve offering over £100 off some items.

“We have to make room for new stock,” says Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK. “We’re determined that all our customers should get a great deal, so we’re discounting some models significantly to give them a chance to get a great piece of equipment at a fantastic price.”

Some of the deals on offer include the ACX10M Manual Scissor Lift Pallet Truck. With a lift height of 800mm and a capacity to carry 1000kg, it can be used as a lifting table, work bench or a standard pallet truck. With a single cylinder pump design, meaning less maintenance for the owner, its price has been reduced by £80.

For workers who will have to cover rocky ground, the Rough Terrain Lift Truck is on sale with a reduction of over £100. With a mammoth 1200kg capacity, adjustable fork width and pneumatic tires, it’s a great choice for construction sites and garden centres.

One last deal is for those who like to work big. The 500kg Extra Large Lift Table is two-wheeled and constructed of heavy duty steel, boasting a table top size of 1600mm x 810mm. The foot operated hydraulic lift can raise the table from 290mm to any height up to 915mm. Descent is controlled with a hand operated lever in the handle.

Forklift trucks have become a mainstay of the warehouse industry for many years. They help to make the industry more productive, safer and altogether more pleasant for workers by fulfilling a number of duties effortlessly. But despite them offering a plethora of benefits, there are some instances when forklifts just don’t quite cut it due to their restricted fork length. But thankfully PalletTrucksUK has the answer.

The company, which is one of the longest-standing suppliers of warehouse and manual handling equipment in the UK, stocks a comprehensive range of forklift fork extensions, all designed to improve forklift trucks’ functionality. Coming in a range of sizes and types, they are ideal for all models and allow for a more effective and efficient working environment.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of PalletTrucksUK, said, “Forklift trucks have been at the forefront of the warehousing industry for as long as many can remember. Inherently useful they are used daily by specialist drivers who are trained to operate them in order to aid other workers. However despite bringing a number of benefits, there are some instances where forklifts do not cut it due to the restricted length of forks.”

All of PalletTrucksUK’s forklift extensions are manufactured to the highest quality, but do not command large price tags. Whether businesses simply need to add a few inches to their forklift’s existing forks, or need to completely overhaul the capabilities of a fleet with a number of extensions, they can breathe a new lease of life into the traditional forklift truck.

Forklift trucks allow warehouses to operate efficiently. Generally used for moving heavy goods and supplies from one place to another quickly and with less effort than doing so manually, they are able to reach high-up objects, lift and load heavy items, are relatively ease to take care of and help to keep workers safe by reducing strain.

“Instead of investing a lot of money into new types of equipment, businesses can simply make the most of their existing fleet by making a few simple and cost-effective adjustments – such as forklift fork extensions,” added Phil.

The online shopping world is changing at an unprecedented rate – mainly thanks to shopping giant, Amazon. The one-stop shop for consumers around the world, they have redefined online shopping offering one-click purchasing, Sunday delivery and competitive pricing. And now the e-retailer is set to overhaul the retail market once again, taking advantage of one of the most popular pieces of equipment at the minute and making it work for the retail sector. Continue reading PalletTrucksUK welcome Amazon drone delivery announcement →

As it’s revealed that the month of May saw continued deflation, Pallet Trucks UK, one of the country’s leading providers of pallet trucks and other manual handling equipment to a range of sectors, is urging businesses to make health and safety their top priority to avoid costly accidents and ill health as high street sales continue to decline.

As shops continue to struggle, the importance of making sure workers are safe cannot be underestimated. Every year, thousands of individuals suffer accidents whilst at work – and most of these could be avoided. Investing in good quality equipment is imperative for businesses to ensure they provide a safe and secure working atmosphere and help to avoid accidents as a result of a lack of or poor equipment.

Although an initial lay-out, investing in correct equipment can save businesses and retailers money in the long-run. Phil Chesworth from Pallet Trucks UK said, “The importance of health and safety in the workplace cannot be underestimated. Particularly important to the industries we supply to, investing in the correct equipment makes potentially hazardous environments much safer. Those who fail to supply correct equipment – or those who use old and outdated equipment and machinery are not only putting their workers in danger, they’re also running the risk of paying out thousands, if not millions of pounds in compensation.”

According to the HSE, musculoskeletal disorders caused by manual handing is one of the main culprits of work-related injuries, with high rates in building, construction and postal and courier trades. There are currently around 1.2 million working people suffering from a work-related illness in the UK, and the estimated cost of injuries and ill health as a result of current working conditions is £14.3 billion.

Overall shop prices revealed a deflation of 1.8% during May, which compared to a 1.7% decrease in April. Highlighting the high street’s struggle to recover since the festive period – which many retailers hoped would end as the warmer weather set in, sales continued to fall.

Pallet Trucks UK, one of the country’s leading providers of pallet trucks and other manual handling equipment to a range of sectors, is urging retailers not to worry prematurely and concentrate on providing good quality goods to consumers amid the news that retailers are feeling the effects due to the uncertainty surrounding the impending EU Referendum.

With the ‘Brexit‘ vote a mere six weeks away, support for leaving the EU is seemingly on the rise. And as a result, retailers have said they are already feeling the pinch due to the uncertainty surrounding the ballot. The British Retail Consortium revealed that spending was flat for a second consecutive month during April, with like for like sales down 0.9% on last year, as consumers put off buying new spring and summer clothes due to low consumer confidence.

Phil Chesworth from Pallet Trucks UK said, “The upcoming EU Referendum is on everyone’s minds at the minute, so there’s no wonder that some people are hesitant to spend money. With so many contrasting opinions on what leaving – or staying – could have on the British pound and the UK economy, many members of the general public are playing safe. However no one really knows what will happen, so it’s imperative that retailers don’t panic prematurely, and continue to offer consumers the same great goods and service that have kept them on the high street for many years.”

These latest figures show that last month consumer morale slipped to its lowest level since December 2014. However with fashion and footwear commanding a huge portion of retail market, the figures could be marred by a lack of demand for new clothing due to the unseasonably cold weather experienced by most of the UK over the last couple of months. But with the weather taking a warmer turn recently, the next month could hold the answers as to why UK spending is down.