Despite strong competition, HUBTEX are pleased to announce that they have won the 2007 FLTA Award for Ergonomics this year with their Twin Masted Picking Platform, namely the EZK 20. The truck is unique in the fact that it allows two men to pick long loads like worktops and sheet material safety and very quickly. This concept is comfortable for the drivers as everything is picked at waist height and damage to the product is minimised.

The trucks were initially installed into IDS Nuneaton last year and have since enjoyed further success with other companies in the UK, mainly in the Timber related industries but also other industries are beginning to realise the benefits of such a truck.

The Award was collected by Jim Hammond Sales and Marketing Manager of HUBTEX UK at the FLTA Awards Dinner at the NEC. The event had a full 007 theme to it which added to the sparkle of the evening. Only a few awards are given out each year and the standard of nominations is always very high.

"This is a very proud moment for HUBTEX" stated Jim shortly after the award was received. "We worked hard to implement the truck in the UK and I am pleased that the voters agree that it is worthy of this high level of recognition".

(Source: ukwa March 2007)

Co Tops has for many years been a market leader in high quality customisation of kitchen and counter worktops. From its purpose built premises in Dunstable Co Tops team of specialists have provided their customers all over the country with tailor made worktops manufactured to exact dimensions and specification.

Managing Director - Nick Weall explains that the companies success has come from satisfying customers demand for a highest levels of service and quality. Following this success it was decided to increase our product base by offering an exclusive range of quality worktops which can be supplied straight from the warehouse or customized as required. To cope with the new range and demand we have extended our warehouse by 8000ft² and installed a guided aisle racking system to maximise density and protect the products from damage. The new warehouse is capable of storing 8500 worktops in addition to the previous storage facility for 2000 worktops.

With an eye for quality Co Tops have chosen Ohra racking and a Hubtex multidirectional electric Sideloader. Careful planning and attention to detail ensure the truck, racking and product live in complete harmony keeping damage and therefore operational costs to a minimum. In addition a number of truck enhancements have been incorporated to help the drivers including: Camera system to aid stacking at higher lift heights, Pre-height selector to ensure forks are always at the right for stacking or de-stacking, Lift height limiter that allows the truck to automatically lift to higher rack levels towards the pitch of the roof depending on position down the aisle and finally the amount of mast reach can be driver selected depending on the depth of product stored.

Traditionally in this industry worktops are picked by bringing the bulk pack to the picking team who "decant" the required number from the pack before returning the part pack to its location. Multi handling means multiple opportunities to damage the expensive worktops. To minimize damage and with further increase in predicted turn over the Hubtex truck has been specified to accept a removable 2 man picking platform. This will reduce pick times and the possibilities for damage by taking the pickers to the product at its storage location. Furthermore picked loads can be completed before banding on the platform ready for immediate dispatch.

This is a story of innovations and problem solving that may have great benefits within those industries that need to hand pick long loads. It explains the changes that have taken place at IDS using a truck that is unique to the UK.

IDS approached HUBTEX in 2004 at the IMHX show and saw a few photos that seemed to be similar to what they were looking for, that being a better way to pick with two men, long, heavy and awkward worktops with ease from any height, a challenge in itself.
IDS traditionally picked worktops in bulk, bring that stack of worktops down, take off what was wanted and put the rest back. It was thought that improvements to safety, productivity and product care could be made with the truck, affectionately know as "the barge".

The majority of HUBTEX business is traditionally focused on the multidirectional, electric sideloader market but it is from its market-leading position that it has become an innovator in the area of long and difficult load handling.
After two visits to see similar trucks in Germany and Belgium, IDS requested a detailed quotation and price, and the two trucks were ordered through Linde Contract Management and supplied on a rental agreement. IDS is part of the St. Gobain Group which uses Linde service throughout.
When the trucks were installed in April this year, there was a steep learning curve for everyone. IDS operatives had to be trained to operate the truck and learn a completely different way to pick product. Linde engineers were given in-depth training to enable them to service and maintain the trucks.
Within a few weeks of installation, it was clear that the decision to change the operation was a wise one. The list below shows the main benefits of the barge trucks:

In summary, the HUBTEX EZK20, while making life much easier for the operator, makes him a happier and safer employee. This has led to improvements in productivity, safety and better levels of product care.
IDS has also contributed to improved safety levels on the truck by installing an innovative restraint feature that ensures the drivers are at all times connected to the platform.
The potential market for the HUBTEX EZK truck is relatively small but as this truck has the ability to vastly improve the working practices of companies picking long product, it is a very important one.
(Source: furnitureproduction)

When it came to choosing a truck to work within its new guided rail warehouse racking system, W Howard turned to HUBTEX to find the ideal solution.

In recent times, there has been a dramatic change in the business of W Howard. As one of the country´s leading suppliers of MDF products, the decision was taken two years ago to further enhance its position by investing in a new storage facility at its existing premises in Astley, near Manchester. This substantial investment had two main goals to achieve: to allow and cater for increased production, and improve even further the good service to the company´s customers.
Inside the new building, cantilever racking was installed with rail guidance to allow four new HUBTEX four-way diesel trucks to operate. Looking back, the effect of the new facility has been dramatic - and very successful.

The new racking allows the finished product, which consits solely of MDF mouldings for the building Industry, to be handled more efficiently with no damage.
The decision to purchase the HUBTEX trucks meant investing time to consider all other options. A four-way truck was chosen as opposed to two-way as the lower bed height and better manoeuvrability were essential to fit in with the new system.
The trucks are now more than 18 months old and are all averaging 70 hours per week, with no service issues other than scheduled serviceing and replacement of parts designed to wear. For all trucks to offer this consistent reliability, a picture of a bullet-proof truck emerges, which offeres excellent value for money.
Even working 70 hours a week, Howards considers buying the trucks to be a long-term investment. This is a view backed up by kitchen furniture and decorative laminate distributor Blackheath Products Ltd, which has trucks in the Midlands that have run up to 25,000 hours!
Ian Foster, chairman of Blackheath, said: "We bought the first HUBTEX truck 17 years ago and still run it eight hours a day." It seems for now that Blackheath will only be extending the HUBTEX fleet and not replacing it.
A reliable truck with low running costs offers other benefits, though. The efficient loading of lorries on time delivers good service to the customer - and a happy customer continues to place orders.

Howards had a few trucks to choose from and time was spent considering all the options. The HUBTEX truck was finally decided on due to its superb pedigree within the materials handling industry. Some of the advantages the truck offers over and above other machines are its visibility and quality of standard components.
W Howard´s transport manager Steve Greenhalgh explained his thoughts on HUBTEX´s contribution to the operation.
"The HUBTEX trucks were purchased primarily to work within the new guided rail warehouse racking system that we purchased, in order to make the picking and storage operations easier and cleaner," said Mr. Greenhalgh.

"The trucks are very adaptable and all our sideloader and counterbalace drivers have found the transition to the HUBTEX to be a relatively simple one."
"Working hand in hand with the new racking system, damage to both products and trucks has been kept to an all-time low, with the trucks proving to be very reliable and robust and we continue to be delighted that we made the right choice in selecting HUBTEX to provide our requirements."
"The after-sales service has been extremely efficient and any teething problems early on were ironed out immediately by the HUBTEX engineers, and 18 month on, they are still only too happy to help."
Three years ago, he added, the price gap between a HUBTEX truck and the competition was larger. HUBTEX also manufactures electric and LPG trucks and as such, in any enquiry can be seen to be acting impartially.
"The diesel trucks perfectly match Howard´s requrements," said Jim Hammond, head of technical sales for HUBTEX (UK). "And the consistent reliability of the Howards machines has helped us to sell many more trucks into the timber/MDF industry."
HUBTEX´s growth in the UK has been dramatic in the last two years, he concluded. Its name is now established across the market and has become synonymous with advanced capability, highly dependable vehicles.
(Source: ttj April/May 2006)

The world´s first heavy duty Reach Truck - developed due to the huge demand within the Chinese Steel Industry to handle heavy steel coils - has just been launched by the German manufacturer HUBTEX.

HUBTEX has traditionaly been known for its range of multidirectional sideloaders, built for handling log and awkward loads. The company´s new reach truck however, the model ESW 4120, is unique in that it allows very heavy loads - up to 6 tonnes - to be handled in much smaller spaces than a conventional counterbalance truck and has a much bigger load capacity range than conventional reach trucks.
Following the successful development of the truck for the steel industry, the company decided to include the model as part of its standard range. The ESW 4120 is now being marketed worldwide to all industry sectors with a requirement to lift heavy loads in confined areas. Whereas conventional reach trucks generally have a load cut-off point at 2.5 tonne maximum, the ESW 4120 is offered in four models ranging from 3.5 tonne to 6 tonne load capacity. Lift heights of up to 8500mm are available. A single joystick control operates the lift/lower, tilt, mast reach/retract and optional "fork positioning" functions.
The 4120 can be supplied on either Vulkollan tyres for indoor use or Pevopur cushion tyres for combined indoor/outdoors operating conditions. Its exterior capabilities will be of particular interest to companies who currently double-handle ther products using overhead cranes and counterbalance trucks.
Jim Hammond, who is responible for sales in the UK and Ireland tells us that HUBTEX products are sold in the Republic through enquiries from forklift dealers and also direct to end users.
(Source: HANDLING network Issue 6)