No Products in the Cart
As PVC Curtain Manufacturers with years of experience in producing strip doors for warehouses, we are well aware of the importance of temperature control in an industrial environment - especially when forklift trucks are involved. In a cold store environment, it can be hard to ensure that the vehicles are operating at peak efficiency as there will be more energy consumed and the battery life can be reduced by up to about 35%. This is then going to impact on productivity and costs which can be hard to swallow.
There are, however, a few things you can do to overcome the challenges associated with cold stores:
Use the Right Equipment
To make sure your forklift is operating at peak efficiency the best place to start is to ensure that you choose a truck that is specifically manufactured to use in a cold environment. These freezer specification vehicles will be produced with motors specifically designed for cold temperatures, low viscosity hydraulic oils to trap moisture, and anti-corrosion coverings.
Park Cleverly
It's common sense really, but when the forklift is not being used in the cold store environment, it should be parked in normal, ambient temperatures. Another tip we have picked up as well is to ensure the truck drives through a low humidity temperature zone when leaving a cold store area, as this will ensure condensation does not build up and turn to ice when the truck re-enters the cold zone.
Battery Size
If you are using a normal forklift truck in a cold store area, the battery will run at a lower capacity than usual - so to compensate for this make sure the battery you use is the maximum capacity for the type of truck you are using. This will help to extend the battery life during normal operation.
Charge Battery Regularly
To ensure that battery life is if possible, the battery should either be in use in the truck or on a charge - and each battery should undergo a full battery recharge before each shift. It is also important to remember that the temperature that a battery should be charged at should be 10 degrees Celsius or above.
Regular Maintenance
If you are using your forklift truck in a cold store environment, then it should undergo a more frequent maintenance programme than usual to ensure any potential problems are caught before they become serious.
Pre-Check and Check Again
The moisture that is created by the cold room environment can cause havoc to the electrical components of a vehicle, and so regular pre-use inspections are vital. It is essential that any forklift truck drivers employed to work in the cold store environment are trained to be able to undertake checks like these in order to ensure downtime is kept to a minimum and truck damage is limited.
These are just some of the things you can do to ensure your forklift trucks work well in the cold store environment, where temperature control is all important. We also offer a range of polar grade PVC strip curtains that are ideal for cold storage, and these are available on our website. If you would like any more information, then you can call us on 0333 999 7171 or send us an email to sales@stripcurtainsdirect.co.uk
