Lift trucks: Hydrostatic drive system lasts six times longer on an oil change
Lumber producer cuts maintenance and operator costs after replacing units with as many as 25,000 hours.
Southeast Wood Treating, based in Montgomery, Ala., owns or operates treating plants in eight states and ships to more than 500 Lowe’s Home Improvement stores for Georgia Pacific. After purchasing 16 new lift trucks, the company saw increased productivity and efficiency while reducing costs for operations and labor.
The new lift trucks replaced units with more than 20,000 operating hours, according to Richard Queen, director of human resources for Southeast Wood Treating. “In some cases we had lifts that exceeded 25,000 hours,” he says. “Other lift truck brands we’ve had in the past would have to be traded out between 9,000 and 15,000 hours.”
The new lift trucks feature a hydrostatic drive system requiring fewer consumable parts and reduced maintenance. Hydraulic oil changes are performed at intervals of every 6,000 operating hours, up to six times longer than with a hydrodynamic (torque converter) drive system. Additionally, the lift trucks do not need brakes and instead use a dual-pedal control system to move the truck forward or backward or to bring the vehicle to a complete stop when the pedal is released.
“Without the hydrostatic drive, the operator goes through many unnecessary lifting and maneuvering motions that cost time and money,” Queen says. “We now handle more lumber with fewer lifts and fewer people.”
Linde Material Handling North America
843-875-8000
lmh-na.com
