Hyster forklifts cope with difficult dusty conditions
Hyster forklift trucks help manufacturer overcome tough conditions – large quantities of dust, and extreme temperatures – at its sand-lime brick production plant.
Radmacher Kalksandsteine makes blocks that are hardened in 15-bar pressure autoclaves, with continuous production in a three-shift, around the clock operation. Due to the demands of the application, including a climate that varies from -15 deg C in winter to more than 30 deg C in summer, the business tested various forklifts thoroughly before selecting new trucks.
“No stone is moved without a Hyster forklift,” says Christian Baars, production manager at the plant, who is especially pleased with two new Hyster H13XM-6 heavy-duty forklift trucks. These trucks, with a lifting capacity of 13-tonnes and a load centre of 600mm, were acquired after testing several different trucks from well-known manufacturers.
While all trucks tested performed well when unloading trolleys and equipping saws, one competitor was unable to deliver the required performance working on the ramp. The heavy forklifts, fully loaded with sand-lime bricks, have to manage a short ramp with a grade of approximately 12%. Although some competitor trucks with strong engines managed the ramp, they consumed significantly more fuel than the Hyster H13XM-6, which is equipped with a powerful six-cylinder Cummins QSB 6.7 litre engine.
“For us, the high-power reserves and low fuel consumption of the Hyster H13XM-6 were key,” says Christian Baars. “After all the testing, we put the first forklift into use in our sand-lime brick factory in Uslar, and then ordered another 13-tonne truck, with an S+H stone clamp, to use at the Wendeburg plant.”
The heavy-duty trucks, which comply with Stage IV / Tier 4 final requirements, consume around 20% less fuel compared to their predecessors.
Good all-round visibility is delivered by the ergonomic Hyster cab, and further enhanced by the VISTA mast with external chains and three, instead of four, hydraulic lines. The noise level has also been reduced, enabling the driver to concentrate during the shift. Additionally, the wide chassis and wide drive axle ensure maximum lateral stability when using attachments.
To avoid the problems caused by dust, there is an option to extend the air inlet of the pre-filter. This reduces the amount of polluted air that is sucked in when the standard pre-filter is no longer sufficient. An automatic lubrication function can also be installed to keep dirt out. Drivers also benefit from the Hyster VISTA Cabin which features an easy-to-clean air filter.
Temperature fluctuations pose no problem for Hyster forklift trucks as they leave the factory in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, ready to withstand operation at temperatures from -18 deg C to 50 deg C.
Four Hyster H3.0FT Fortens ICE forklift trucks are used by the company to their maximum performance, reaching up to 3,500 operating hours per year. The trucks are primarily used to transport the sand-lime blocks around the site.
