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Independent builders merchant Lawsons has taken on five new JCB 30-19E electric-powered Teletruks, the first of their kind in the UK.
Lawsons is the first UK customer to invest in the JCB 30-19E, which was launched in Spring 2019 and is the first electric-powered model to be added to the Teletruk range.
Paul Murray, JCB’s Teletruk general manager, said: “The introduction of electric-powered Teletruks has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the truck user community. The launch of the 30-19E opens up so many new markets for us and Lawsons’ order is no doubt the first of many for this hugely exciting product.”
With many of its facilities located in urban environments close to residential communities, Lawsons is increasingly conscious of the need to be a ‘good neighbour’ and is doing all that it can to consider any concerns that those who live near to its depots may have about noise and air quality.
Lawsons’ group transport manager, David Harvey, said: “We make every effort to ensure that the materials handling equipment in use at our sites – particularly those located in higher density environments -is as quiet as possible and complies with current emission standard regulations.
Lawsons identified the benefits that the Teletruk would bring to its business when JCB originally launched the forklift back in 1997 and, for some 20 years, JCB Teletruk technology has played a key role in the company’s materials handling processes.
The company currently runs some 55 diesel-powered Teletruks which are used for a variety of duties, including unloading incoming delivery vehicles, putting away and picking stock and loading the 100 or so lorries and vans that make up Lawsons’ transport fleet with orders bound for customer sites.
Because outside space at many of Lawsons’s sites is limited, the Teletruk is the ideal forklift truck for the company thanks to the fact that its telescopic forward reach boom allows trailer and vehicle beds to be accessed from only one side. Picking or packing loads from one side only minimizes the space needed to load or unload a vehicle, so they can be parked tight to a wall or racking – leaving valuable space free in the central yard area for additional storage, extra delivery vehicles or for tasks such as cross docking.
The JCB 30-19E features the iconic telescopic forward reach boom that has made the Teletruk such a popular lift truck across diverse industry sectors and power is provided by an 80-volt lead acid battery which can work a full eight hour shift on a single charge. Thanks to its AC electric driveline, the new truck can climb a 21% gradient or ramp with ease and productivity is further enhanced with full free lift of 1575mm as standard and a lift capacity of 1900kg at 2 metres.
Lawsons’ phased introduction of electric-powered handling equipment across its business will also help the company in its aim to achieve Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Gold accreditation. FORS is a quality assurance standard for operators of commercial fleets.
