Quieter forklift trucks to support 24/7 deliveries

Posted on 18 May 2012

The BT Lifter Silent hand pallet truck has decreased disruption from delivery noise to cut the risk of complaints from local communities.

Toyota Material Handling has developed a new twist on a well-known product and designed it to be as quiet as possible.

This will allow a greater number of around-the-clock deliveries to be made with the end customer.

The new BT Lifter Silent hand pallet truck is fitted with high quality rubber steering, Powerthane bogie wheels, frames fitted with shock absorbing material to reduce vibration noise and adjustable rubber studs. It operates at the same decibel level as a conversation is 20% quieter than a standard hand pallet truck.

In the lead up to and during the Olympics, Transport for London will be encouraging out of hour deliveries with an aim to decrease congestion.

Leading associations Transport for London, Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Noise Abatement Society are working together to ensure any deliveries during the Olympics run smoothly.

The new considered approach from Transport for London and the Noise Abatement Society sees a Code of Practice detail considerations that companies will need to take into account when applying for and arranging out of hour deliveries. One of the main considerations is noise disruption.

Mark Peters, hand pallet truck product manager at Toyota Material Handling UK commented: “The BT Lifter Silent is designed specifically to solve the problems of noisy out of hour deliveries or for deliveries that take place in built up or residential areas.”

The BT Lifter Silent was tested under the Dutch PEAK programme and found to generate a maximum noise level of 60 dBA according to the testing guidelines.