Unique rotating-cabin lift truck

Staff -- Logistics Management, 4/1/2005

Because cost efficiency is critical in today's economy, it's common for forklift truck drivers in warehouses and DCs to transport multiple pallets in one trip. As a result, drivers often have restricted forward visibility and are forced to travel lengthy distances backwards. This not only leaves drivers at risk for back injury, but also is dangerous. A new rotating-cabin truck from Jungheinrich, the EFG D30, offers a safer and more ergonomic solution.

The truck, which seats the driver in an ergonomically favorable position, facing the direction of travel and with an unobstructed field of vision, features a rotating cabin that can be rotated 30 degrees to the left as well as 180 degrees to the right with the Multipilot control. If the view ahead is obstructed by a load, the driver can rotate the entire cabin up to 180 degrees and guide the forklift truck to its destination with the load at his back. The lift truck also features a Curve Control system that automatically reduces the travel speed when negotiating curves and eliminates tip-over accidents.

This solution is based on a Jungheinrich battery-powered truck from the "4" series with a lifting capacity of 3,000 kilograms and speeds of up to 20 kilometers an hour. The rotating-cab truck model is a first-of-a-kind and is currently undergoing field trials; production is scheduled to begin this month, according to the manufacturer.

Jungheinrich AG 040 6948-1503 www.jungheinrich.com