Easing pressure at the warehouse pick-face

With warehouse managers under increasing strain to further improve pick rate productivity and efficiency, Yale's new order picker promises to ease the pressure

As order picking efficiency becomes increasingly important in warehousing operations, Yale is seeking to capitalise with the introduction of the compact ACpowered MO10E order picker. The manufacturer claims the truck addresses the need of many companies to improve pick rates and output.

Designed for second and third level picking, Yale has increased supplementary lift height to 4800mm with the MO10E. The company adds: "Versatile and easy to control, this rising cab order picker travels and lifts simultaneously taking picking efficiency to new heights while returning excellent energy efficiency." An integral part of Yale's extensive warehouse equipment product range, the MO series of horizontal and vertical order pickers is said to offer quiet, effortless operation and features focused on ensuring operators can achieve faster, more accurate order picking.

Using technology from Yale's MTC range of Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) equipment, the standard Yale MO10E order picker offers a 1200mm lift while the open platform provides full access to the pick location and pallet at and above ground level. The increased 4800mm lift height on the supplementary lift version offers increased flexibility of working height to suit a wider range of picking tasks within the warehouse.

The company adds that maximising operator comfort can boost efficiency and application productivity. This ethos has been applied to the MO10E order picker, which features a step height of 170mm. This is said to make getting on and off the cushioned, operator-sensitive platform far less strenuous. The park brake is automatically released as soon as the operator is safely positioned within the area of the operators platform.

Steering wheel control on the MO10E requires minimum effort aiding rapid aisle transfers. The butterfly speed control and push-button lift and lower functions are all easily to hand on the control panel, while Yale's proven AC technology provides outstanding traction and stability. The MOSFET high frequency speed controller with regenerative braking also ensures the highest levels of energy efficiency from the truck's compact 24V battery.

A 'pedestrian mode' creep speed function allows the operator to advance the truck and lift or lower the platform and the forks on the Supplementary Lift model, while standing on the ground adjacent to the truck. This significantly reduces the number of times a day the operator has to step on and off the platform reducing fatigue. In addition as the forks can also be raised or lowered away from the cab the operator does not have to continually bend up and down or stretch over when loading or unloading as the pallet can be raised to exactly the right height.

The company also claims increased reliability and reduced service intervals to lower maintenance costs as the result of a strong, welded chassis and robust mast construction.

With an ever increasing variety of lines to be handled, higher pick rates, shorter lead times, higher customer service levels, and the need to reduce picking errors and stock-outs, there is greater demand than ever on order picking operations.

Paul Garrigan, sales manager for Yale Warehouse Equipment in the UK adds: "Yale understands the pressures that its customers face, and is constantly looking for new ways to further improve pick rate productivity and efficiency, with the operator playing a crucial role.

"A high level of customisation during assembly is demanded by Yale customers and the company prides itself in delivering equipment that meets customers' these customer's needs, by providing features and equipment in the right place." The MO10E also includes clipboard support, cab dome lights, overhead fan package & front, side and overhead guards.

Garrigan concludes: "The MO range of order pickers will help our customers achieve the highest possible pick rates."