Palletways looks at moving to gas
Palletways this week confirmed it is trialling gas-fuelled forklift trucks. Operations director Kath McCann says: “We are looking into the environmental benefits of using gas-fuelled forklifts and have recently received delivery of a demonstration vehicle. We are hopeful that the results will be positive.” Gas power, which has been adopted by some other large hubs, would do away with a need for lift truck drivers to wear masks to protect themselves from fumes.
Palletline this week said it has invested (pounds sterling)360,000 in replacing its forklift fleet with LPG-powered Linde forklifts. It says the vehicles are providing a quieter and cleaner environment in its Birmingham hub, and are also delivering financial savings through reduced fuel consumption. Palletline says that tackling health and safety issues at its Birmingham hub is on the agenda. Managing director Glyn Jones says: “There are too many people on foot in the hub, I’m not sure how we solve the problem; but we are working on it.” The HSE is taking increased interest in the pallet sector, he notes.
Palletforce last week told MT that it had recently made its hub a pedestrian-free zone.
