The trend for fruit-infused bottled water and functional juices, for example, is an exciting growth opportunity for the beverage logistics industry - and presents the perfect time to assess handling operations to maximise performance as loads increase and to safeguard against bottlenecks.
Yale has 5 solutions to help businesses consolidate growth in beverage handling applications and improve overall productivity:
1. Managing a wider range of items
As the number of SKUs increases, efficiency is paramount to ease the pressure on warehouse storage, while durability and versatility are important to optimise handling productivity and reduce downtime.
Yale lift trucks can have a positive impact on warehouse operations with specific features to maximise productivity, including automated functionality to reduce the added pressures from labour shortages.
Order pickers, like the Yale MO10-25, can efficiently move multiple loads in time-sensitive beverage distribution centres, while double pallet handlers offer reliable bulk loading and movement of palletised goods.
Operator comfort and performance is equally important and Yale lift trucks can be fitted with a raised operator cab and ergonomic 15o swivel seat to assist with operator visibility and fatigue, enabling increased productivity.
2. Desire for greater sustainability
Yale is proactive in its support for emissions reduction and green initiatives. Corporate responsibility is focused on sustainable solutions and Yale has implemented green manufacturing initiatives to help businesses meet reduction targets.
Making the switch from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric power is the obvious solution to reduce carbon emissions, noise, heat and dust – and reduce maintenance costs.
From a sustainability point of view, using lithium-ion to power your fleet is the preferred battery option. Lithium-ion reduces charging time and energy usage, while eliminating the need for larger battery storage and charging rooms. Lithium-ion is also durable, providing equivalent power for longer than other available battery types.
3. Cost and margin pressure
The rising cost of fulfilment and volatile macro-economic conditions have created a lot of uncertainty within the beverage industry. As a result, businesses need cost-effective solutions to manage their fleet. Yale can help reduce the administrative burden as part of its fleet management program, which offers both advice and support to customers.
There are ways to stay relevant and save money in the long term - without compromising productivity and efficiency. Automation of repetitive tasks can help reduce labour costs and increase efficiency, which can lead to cost savings over time, while lift trucks like the UX Series is a low cost to ownership (LCO) lift truck with low wear and tear and maintenance costs.
Yale dealers are experts in their field and understand their client base. They can provide valuable and comprehensive support on how to optimise your fleet within a given budget.
4. Labour challenges
The multi-shift nature of warehouse work makes it difficult to attract and retain a skilled workforce. Inexperienced workers can affect productivity, which makes adoption of new technology a necessity to maintain warehouse operations.
Robotic features in lift trucks can release operators from repetitive tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more value-added and productive tasks – and therefore more likely to stick around.
In addition, automated obstacle detection reduces damage to products and equipment, while Yale Vision controls access to equipment, monitors driver behaviour and instils best practice for optimal performance.
5. Monitoring health & safety
On-board lift truck technology provides safeguards designed to assist in reducing truck incidents that impact operations flow, uptime, associated health and safety issues, and insurance costs.
Yale supports best practice in the beverage industry with a range of operator assistance features (lighting and camera options), along with Yale Vision customized on-board performance tracking, and DSS (Dynamic Stability System) on Yales Series N ICE lift trucks.
Use our Yale dealer finder to locate and contact your local authorised dealer, who can help you find the right solution for your beverage industry operation.
