By Kurt Spyke, Director of National Accounts and Strategic Products, Big Joe Forklifts
Grocery distributors and food manufacturers have their processes down to a science. And like any good scientist, they keep testing ways to do better. Every pallet touch matters. So does every square foot of the building, and most of all, every person working in it.
That’s why equipment decisions deserve a fresh look every time. “It can be tough to make a change from your last buying cycle, or even your last two or three buying cycles,” says Kurt Spyke, director of national accounts and strategic products for Big Joe Forklifts. “But operators and managers know their day-to-day challenges, and with the right partnerships and equipment, they can meet those challenges and do their jobs even better.”
Food industry leaders who care about continuous improvement should take a closer look at Class 3 walk-behind equipment. It doesn’t always look like the obvious answer, but it solves more problems than most people expect.
1. Class 3 walkie stackers keep operations running
Downtime hurts any warehouse that moves product, and grocery and food operations feel it fast. Equipment has to stay in service with as little maintenance as possible. This is where lithium-ion power makes a real difference. Walk-behind models like the Big Joe PDSR30 pantograph reach stacker come with a lithium-ion option, which gets rid of the watering and battery swaps that come with lead acid.
“Few things have changed the material handling industry more than lithium-ion batteries,” says Spyke. He points out that lithium-ion equipment needs little to no maintenance, and that cost and charging time have come down as the technology has matured.
Lithium-ion also frees up floor space. “You’re literally buying back real estate because you no longer need eyewash, washdown or safety areas that are required for lead-acid battery users,” Spyke explains. Longer run time, fewer components and a smaller footprint add up to equipment that earns its keep in any warehouse.
2. Walk-behind stackers lower operating costs
Those efficiencies show up on the balance sheet too. Lithium-ion walk-behinds burn no fuel and cut out routine battery maintenance, so there’s less spent on parts and labor over the life of the truck.
The savings matter most in small and midsized facilities, where a Class 1 forklift is often more truck than the job needs. A Class 3 walk-behind stacker covers much of the same stacking and putaway work in a much smaller footprint. The 3,000 lb. PDSR30, for example, uses a pantograph mechanism to extend its forks into racking and lifts up to 189 in. Standard electronic power steering makes it easy to maneuver in tight aisles. It costs less to run these tasks on a stacker than to tie up a sit-down forklift.
3. Class 3 equipment helps solve labor challenges
Walk-behind equipment is also easier to learn. Operators still need OSHA-required powered industrial truck training and evaluation, but walkies have a shorter learning curve than sit-down forklifts, so new team members get up to speed quickly. With labor tight across grocery and food manufacturing, stackers like the PDSR30 or the Big Joe CB30-35 counterbalanced stacker keep product moving when experienced forklift operators are stretched thin.
Battery-powered walk-behinds also make for a safer, cleaner floor. They travel at lower speeds than rider trucks and produce no exhaust or fumes, which matters anywhere food is stored or handled. Midsized coffee roaster Baronet Coffee saw this firsthand in its 50,000-square-foot facility. The equipment gave the team the safety and efficiency it needed, and because it’s easy to learn, most employees can run it.
Compact enough for tight spaces and still able to lift high and move heavy loads, Class 3 walk-behinds pair heavy-duty capability with straightforward, safe operation.
Do what you do, better than before
Margins are tight, labor is limited, and food operations can’t afford a missed shipment. Operators and managers have to weigh every option to find the right fit. Class 3 walk-behind stackers cut downtime and maintenance, free up floor space and widen the pool of people who can run equipment. “These vehicles are like a Swiss army knife for moving product,” Spyke says. They let food industry leaders keep doing what they do, only better.
Want to see how a walk-behind stacker fits your operation? Contact your local Big Joe dealer to schedule a demo.
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