A leading charity is using a Toyota battery electric forklift truck to distribute donated food and groceries throughout New South Wales.
Foodbank is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks and distributes food and groceries donations to welfare agencies which feed the hungry.
It is the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia.
Foodbank NSW accepts donated food and groceries from retailers including Woolworths and Coles and Food manufacturers such as Nestlé and distributes them to 430 welfare agencies around the state.
Foodbank NSW distributed 3000 tonnes of food and groceries in 2007.
It has trebled its output over the last five years.
Its 2900-square-metre warehouse facility at Wetherill Park in Sydney’s west houses 1200 pallets of dry goods, 200 pallets of frozen goods and 100 pallets of chilled goods.
Foodbank recently ordered a 1.5-tonne payload Toyota 7FBE Three Wheel battery electric forklift.
“The Toyota was originally given to us on loan, and became part of an evaluation process when we were looking to purchase a new forklift,” says Barry Page, general manager for Foodbank NSW.
“Our drivers gave it a good work-out, and said it ticked all the boxes in terms of operation, performance and features, so I had no hesitation in ordering one based on their very favourable feedback.”
“In addition to its overall performance, the Toyota has a high degree of manoeuvrability, which is important for working in the freezer areas of our warehouse,” Page says.
“And I have to say the clincher for me was the excellent service I received from the Toyota Material Handling representative – he’s been terrific.”
The 1.0 to 2.0-tonne payload 7FBE Three Wheel Battery Electric range combines the manoeuvrability of a three-wheel design with the Toyota 7-Series’ proven performance and safety advantages.
The five Toyota 7-Series battery electric models have an alternating current (AC) motor system.
Compact yet powerful AC Motors dramatically improve both travel and load-handling performance to a level that approaches that of internal combustion forklifts.
In addition, the 7FBE has Toyota’s SAS system that monitors key forklift operations, detecting and counteracting instability to help reduce the risk of tip-overs.
When the system senses instability, the Active Control Rear Stabiliser locks the rear axle to help reduce lateral tip-overs.
The Active Mast Function Controller senses and reacts to instability by limiting mast angle and speed according to the load’s height and weight.
This world-leading safety technology is fitted to all Toyota 7-Series battery electric forklift trucks, and to 7-Series reach trucks.
For further information 1800 425 438.