Davies Turner Air Cargo has made a major investment in material handling equipment (MHE) at its logistics hub at Heathrow Airport.
This strategic upgrade, undertaken by one of the largest independent air freight and logistics companies in the United Kingdom, aims to enhance operational efficiency and safety, and consolidate the company’s commitment to maintaining industry-leading standards.
The existing fleet of material handling equipment has been replaced with seven electric forklift trucks, three access trucks and one battery changing truck. They are all equipped with high-tech batteries and chargers.
From the Bobcat MHE range, the 11 vehicles were purchased under lease from Rushlift, a leading national full-service supplier of multi-brand material handling and ground support equipment, with whom Davies Turner Air Cargo has partnered for nearly 30 years. General. Years.
The new MHE fleet will ensure Davies Turner Air Cargo’s Heathrow hub continues to operate at the highest level of performance, even as demand and operational complexity increase.
Safety remains a top priority for Davies Turner Air Cargo, and the new fleet includes advanced safety technologies designed to reduce accidents and improve operational safety, underscoring the company’s commitment to health, safety and environmental issues.
Among the key innovations are the perimeter proximity lights, which surround the equipment, enhancing visibility and safety in crowded or low-light conditions, which are complemented by the addition of flat, chevron-shaped LED strip lights mounted on the counterweight.
Safety lights with progressive directional arrows that appear on both the front and rear of the vehicle, depending on the direction of travel, have replaced the traditional blue reverse light, providing clearer directional guidance, when projected to the ground, in the directional path of the vehicle.
Fork cameras provide operators with better visibility when raising forks, or through the mast, reducing the risk of accidents during operation; While pedestrian detection cameras identify people in specific proximity, automatically slowing the truck to prevent collisions.
Each truck is equipped with an RFID beacon to detect other trucks in a potential collision path. These signals react to red flashing warning signals on door frames and blind spots to alert other operators, reducing the risk of accidents.
“As part of one of the UK’s leading freight and logistics companies, Davies Turner Air Cargo is always striving to improve our operational capabilities and the safety of our workforce,” said Oliver Simons, General Manager Heathrow Airport Services at Davies Turner Air Cargo.
“This investment in cutting-edge MHE technology at our Heathrow facility is testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in the logistics industry. We are confident that these upgrades will enhance our service delivery, ensuring we continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
Andrew Gazzard, Key Account Director at Rushlift, added: “Working with Davies Turner over many years has allowed us to develop a real working relationship, enabling a greater understanding of ever-changing needs.
“Her commitment to ensuring she has access to the latest reliable and safe equipment, coupled with around-the-clock support, means that through our flexible and consultative approach to working, our longstanding partnership continues to flourish.
“We are pleased to offer Bobcat’s new range of forklift trucks along with recently launched safety innovations from our partners FTC and, where appropriate, to confidently supply equipment outside the Bobcat portfolio.”
This significant investment confirms Davies Turner Air Cargo’s position as a leader in the logistics industry, with a focus on combining advanced technology with operational excellence.
