Innovation elevates forklifts to greater heights
Electric power solutions and safety technologies
From introducing game-changing safety technologies to leading in electric power solutions, Toyota Material Handling’s commitment to innovation has redefined the efficiency, safety and sustainability of forklifts, helping improve productivity for various industries in South Africa.
Forklifts play a key role in successful warehouse, retail, logistics and agricultural operations. It is essential equipment that operates in the background, allowing for the lifting of heavy loads and moving products from one location to another, every day, across the country, ensuring South Africans have what they need, when they need it.
While the first forklift – the LA 1-ton internal combustion engine counterbalanced forklift – was launched through Toyota Motor Sales Co in 1956, Toyota Material Handling – a division of CFAO Equipment sold its first Toyota forklifts in South Africa – the Toyota 4-Series – when it was founded in 1984.
The 4-Series was soon replaced with the game-changing Toyota 5-Series which proved to be the ultimate workhorse for Africa’s tough terrain. With their safe and solid design, these hardier forklifts were reliable and able to operate effectively in the most challenging environments.
CFAO Equipment National Technical Manager, Stephen Mostert, says that over the years, every new forklift series produced by Toyota Material Handling has introduced ground-breaking innovations. “These innovations have largely been based on customer feedback and requirements, elevating forklifts from basic industrial equipment to technologically advanced and intuitive equipment, incorporating ever more sophisticated safety features.”
The 6-Series, introduced in 1992, was a departure from the 5-Series. Instead of focusing solely on durability, Toyota Material Handling's latest models highlighted exceptional safety and driver comfort. This was followed by the launch of the pioneering Series 7 (originally the 7 Series) internal combustion forklift in 1997. It featured the world’s first System of Active Stability (SAS).
The SAS forklift system takes more than 3,000 readings per second to detect various factors that could potentially lead to lateral instability. When those conditions are detected, the SAS instantly locks the Swing Lock Cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder on the rear steer axle.
An Operator Presence System (OPS) was also introduced in the 1990s. The OPS controller monitors the seat switch status to determine if the operator is seated properly, with both feet correctly positioned and the seatbelt on. If the seat switch status changes from "closed" to "open" for more than two seconds during powered travel, the OPS controller will force the transmission to "neutral” and interrupt the trip.
Mostert says the 8-Series forklift was launched in South Africa in 2007, along with the revolutionary I_Site telematics system. “By then, forklift technology had exploded and Japanese equipment was differentiated by its focus on efficiencies. This focus continues today, along with greater emphasis on safety, productivity and the pursuit of zero carbon emissions.”
In 2018, Toyota Material Handling became the first in the industry to incorporate I_Site as a standard feature in its electric forklift trucks. Today, more than 200,000 machines are connected, improving the overall efficiency of forklift fleets.
"I_Site enables more efficient management of forklift fleets by tracking utilisation, downtime, OH&S incidents, breakdowns and response times. This data aids in optimising both the fleet and operators, while also extending the lifespan of the equipment," explains Mostert.
Each innovation over the years has been driven by the need to meet customer demands, reflecting Toyota Material Handling’s commitment to staying competitive in the market.
Mostert emphasises that the company has always prioritised customer feedback. "Operators spend up to eight hours a day in forklifts, so comfort is essential. That’s why we introduced features such as armrests, head and neck guards and swivelling bases. When customers voiced concerns about noise and carbon emissions, we responded by offering electric models. Furthermore, in response to customer concerns about forklifts rolling back on inclines, we implemented a roll-back system."
“More recently, we introduced fork vibration dampers for the agricultural and other industries. These are aimed at helping reduce vibrations when moving delicate products around,” he adds.
Innovation and research and development (R&D) will always form part of Toyota Material Handling’s DNA. “The business is continually exploring new frontiers, be it the use of biometrics or introduction of Automatically Guided Vehicles (AGVs), with every innovation keeping three key factors – efficiency, safety and sustainability – top of mind,” concludes Mostert.
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