The forklifts taking a fresh look at dust in the construction chain

Botros Hanna, Industry Manager for Hyster Europe, explained: “Whether operations are handling bricks, blocks, aggregates, concrete precast or other building materials, you’ll find tough outdoor conditions where high levels of dust and dirt are the norm. This can impact operator’s comfort levels as well as uptime for lift trucks handling construction materials unless they are properly protected.”

For example, lift truck filters can quickly become clogged with dirt, leading to cooling problems. The required extra maintenance and related downtime not only increases the overall cost of ownership, but also impacts the efficiency of the operation. 

To help overcome this, the Hyster eight to 16XM range of heavy duty lift trucks is available with on-demand cooling fans featuring auto-reverse cleaning for reduced fan induced dust. The eight to 16 tonne capacity trucks also feature a high mounted air intake system, heavy duty pre-cleaner and special breathers to provide added protection from the tough, dusty and dirty conditions.

To help prevent additional damage and wear to truck components Hyster lift trucks also feature automatic greasing, which helps to push the dust and dirt away from critical wear points. In addition, vented hoods and a truck belly pan designed to prevent the ingress of dirt and debris from underneath the vehicle support arduous construction materials handling operations. 

Hanna added: “By preventing the effects of dust and dirt on Hyster® forklift truck components, operations can see fewer breakdowns and maintenance costs reduced. In fact, we have seen some similar applications experience a 30% reduction in their total fleet running costs, as well as experiencing improvements in efficiency.”

Operators also play a vital role in contributing to overall operational efficiency, so providing a comfortable working environment which protects them from harsh conditions is key.

Hanna continued: “High levels of dust should be cause for the employer’s concern with regards to operator comfort. In fact, operations can be fined by authorities if high amounts of dust are found to be entering the cabin, as this poses a risk to the operator.”

To improve the driver environment, an enclosed pressurised cabin can be added to the Hyster H8-16XM range of lift trucks. The high-comfort cab, is sealed with a separate air filtration system to reduce dust in the cabin, and can also include air conditioning for operations with high ambient temperatures. Optional vinyl seats also help to avoid accumulation of dust inside the cabin compared to fabric seats.

The Hyster H8-16XM series was also recently updated with a new mast and carriage enabling operators to look through and over the carriage for ideal levels of visibility of the forks, load and any attachments. With added strength from the innovative new mast, and a robust frame, operators also benefit from greater stability in their working environment.

Hanna finished: “With solutions to tackle dust and dirt while keeping operators comfortable, Hyster lift trucks are suited to operations throughout the entire construction supply chain. However, to experience maximum efficiency and uptime and a low cost of ownership, we work closely with customers to provide 360-degree solutions which meet the differing demands of each particular application."