A highly manoeuvrable Sidetracker multi-directional reach truck has helped Broadstock Office Furniture Ltd to more than double board storage capacity and ensure a continuous flow of material to the production line.

Board was previously stacked on the factory floor, which allowed only 24 packs to be stored at a time. As packs were stacked on top of each other, accessing the material required could take two people half an hour.

New six metre high cantilever racking was installed to provide space for 62 packs of board, allowing the full range to be stored in a logical system and accessed without delay. The company is now also able to order bigger quantities at better prices.

The material, which measures up to 2.8 metres x 2.1 metres, is handled by a three-wheel Sidetracker with two drive wheels, which have provided very accurate steering while remaining compact and manoeuvrable. An essential criteria for operating in a production environment where turning areas and aisle widths have been kept to a minimum.

As the truck has no electronic equipment, it also unloads in-coming delivery vehicles inthe factory yard then transports and stores them directly into the racking making the whole operation fast and efficient.