Supplying a number of the world’s largest automotive and aviation manufacturers with high-quality leather-based is a demanding enterprise, requiring a strong forklift truck fleet able to working at peak efficiency within the harshest of business environments. Rushlift gives the full-support answer.
Scottish Leather-based Group is a family-owned, enterprise constructed on supplying sustainable high-quality merchandise to lots of the world’s main corporations within the aviation, automotive, bus, coach and rail industries, in addition to the posh items and furnishings design sectors. Excessive-profile clients embody: Aston Martin, Polestar, Jaguar Land Rover, British Airways, Singapore Airways, Ryanair and Irish Rail.
The enterprise prides itself on its pursuit of operational excellence, with a mix of Six Sigma strategies, exacting sustainability requirements and a powerful emphasis on office security – having achieved award-winning security efficiency and RoSPA Gold recognition. Sustaining these excessive requirements throughout their manufacturing and distribution websites close to Glasgow calls for a strong fleet of well-engineered forklift vans able to acting at peak below probably the most punishing of manufacturing environments.
Difficult situations
“Tanneries are by their very nature a number of the harshest working environments for mechanical tools,” says Kelly Truman, Engineering Compliance Supervisor at Scottish Leather-based Group. “Our forklift fleet at our major manufacturing facility in Bridge of Weir, Paisley, and at our web site close to Glasgow, work three-shifts a day, shifting hides between moist processes and loading automobiles. It’s robust work that may take a heavy toll on a car because the chemical substances concerned within the manufacturing course of are extremely corrosive, requiring common servicing of the fleet with a view to preserve them operationally efficient and protected.”
Preserving to schedule and making certain that manufacturing is uninterrupted is important for Scottish Leather-based Group’s continued enterprise success, as any failure to ship on time can affect buyer manufacturing traces. This accountability locations a heavy emphasis on the efficiency of the forklift truck fleet and every truck’s capability to take care of most uptime – these automobiles should be strong, dependable high-performers. And holding them on prime type over a three-shift day, ‘day-in, day-out’, requires common servicing and a rigorous upkeep regime.
When it got here to reviewing their supplies dealing with fleet in the summertime of 2024 Scottish Leather-based Group entered right into a complete tendering course of which resulted in them putting an order for 18 new Bobcat forklift vans with Rushlift, the nationwide full-service supplier of supplies dealing with tools.
“Rushlift proved their value again in 2023 after they supplied glorious help, supplying a fleet of powered pallet vans to cut back guide dealing with throughout three of our websites and by arranging for quite a lot of LPG powered counterbalance vans on short-term rental,” says Kelly. “The upkeep and repair help have been first-class, so we knew we might depend on them – and the Bobcat product vary was clearly match for the duty.”
Excessive-spec, anti-corrosion
The order consisted of:Ten Bobcat G30E-7 four-wheel counterbalance vans, fitted with triple raise masts, half cabs and cargo weight indicators, able to working with masses as much as 3000 kg. Critically, the automobiles needed to be specifically tailored to guard them in opposition to the tough, moist working setting of the tannery, which included a high-spec anti-corrosion paint utilized to the bodywork and mast, together with extra-thick chrome plating and zinc coated chains. As well as, three of the vans have been fitted with a field rotator attachment, which have been additionally handled with anti-corrosion paint.
However not all automobiles have been destined for tannery use; different fashions have been equipped for the much less aggressive working setting of the distribution centre, and yard duties. Additional Bobcat counterbalance fashions equipped included two G25E-7 with half and full cabs, a G35E-7 with a load dealing with capability of 3500 kg, three BR16JW-9 attain vans with integral sideshift, LED lights and panoramic mirror, and two heavy-duty electrical counterbalance fashions, the B30X-7 and the B25X-7, each with half cabs.
All automobiles throughout the fleet have been equipped full with triple raise masts, 4th hydraulics and the most recent security tools, together with: blue spot security lights for alerting pedestrians, full FTC Optafleet Telematics (pre-use security test, fleet utilisation information and affect detection), and seat belt interlocks.
Full help
“Upkeep and common servicing are extremely vital to us,” says Kelly. “That’s why we went for a leasing settlement with a full upkeep and help bundle from Rushlift.” This consists of an elevated frequency of Thorough Examinations based mostly on the websites arduous situations and environmental components, through Rushlift’s accomplice Plant & Security.
As well as, Rushlift have supported Scottish Leather-based Group in coaching a few of their personnel on finishing up interim upkeep checks to make sure they establish any points out with the common servicing, upkeep and pre-use checks, to make sure most uptime in harsh environments.
Kelly concludes: “Over the previous yr, Rushlift has confirmed to be an distinctive accomplice, delivering a stage of service and help that has persistently exceeded our expectations. From the outset, the Rushlift workforce has introduced a wealth of trade information, hands-on expertise, and a proactive method that has added important worth to our operations. Their capability to grasp our distinctive wants and tailor their help accordingly has made an actual distinction – not simply by way of compliance and security, however within the confidence and functionality of our workforce.”
Rushlift is offering additional ongoing help with flooring cleansing machines and entry tools throughout all 4 of Scottish Leather-based Group’s websites.
