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)

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)

Glassex was the launch pad for the newest product to the HUBTEX range, the HUBTEX 4 Way Pedestrian truck, which is specifically targeted at the smaller fabricator and installer.

The company says that it is the most cost effective solution to handling long loads in confined areas inside. "Where there are areas accessed by the other employees, this offers the safest method possible of storing and retrieving products, as the driver can see fully in front of him at all times."
Since the recent demise of a large PVCu profile manufacturer in the UK, customers switching to other suppliers have realised that unless their stillages are delivered on a truck with a lorry mounted fork truck, they have great difficulty taking the stillages inside if they do not have their own truck. 10 stillages a week typically gives enough profile for about 500 windows.
"For such low usage of a truck, a lot of fabricators will not be able to justify the cost of a 4 way truck/counterbalance truck to do this job, but the HUBTEX EGPL is a fraction of the cost of even a counterbalance truck depending on spec or can be hired per week for less than a third of a mans wages a week!"
"In summary, the HUBTEX EGPL is big news for many Fabricators and Installers and has the potential to help a lot of companies operate better."
(Source: The Glazine, July 2005)

The handling of long loads inside and out has become easier now with the introduction of the HUBTEX 2123 multidirectional electric sideloader.
Traditionally, indoor trucks with small solid tyres struggled on outdoor floors and the vibration created could affect the controls on the truck, increasing downtime.
The 2123 has rubber tyres and can therefore cope with outdoor conditions. Compared to taking an engined truck indoors, it also has many other benefits, the main ones being zero emissions, much lower running costs, lower bed height (useful in cantilever racking), narrower dimensions and much better manoeuvrability.
A detailed cost analysis shows that the operational costs of the truck over 5 years are considerably less than an engined truck.
(Source: The Glazine, July 2005)