Forklifts play a key role in our industries. Ensuring their safe, effective and accident free functioning is a constant challenge. At Claitec we always seek to take a step forward with our solutions developing improvements that create safer and more efficient work spaces. In this article, we’d like to introduce you to three of the tools developed by the Claitec team to enhance the operation of forklifts within industrial spaces:

The Roof Radar safety system automatically reduces the speed of a vehicle as it enters a building. As soon as the radar detects a ceiling, it immediately selects the low speed on the forklift until it leaves that space again.

Thus, the forklift can return from performing tasks in an open space without pedestrians – such as a merchandise loading and unloading area -, and return to the warehouse or a work area with pedestrians, to have its speed automatically modified without requiring any action from the driver. This prevents the possible adverse effects of forgetfulness or distraction of the operator in relation to the speed of movement of the machine.

The active inhibitor, on the other hand, is an electronic device that is installed next to the forklift’s driver’s seat to inhibit his/her key rings when entering the vehicle. This way, the drivers’ key rings are not detected and for the rest of the systems operating it appears that only the forklift is circulating, thus preventing problems or crossed detections that reduce the effectiveness and pace of work.

In other words, the way this tool operates allows the driver to drive the forklift safely and keeping the Pedestrian Detection system activated, in order to prevent accidents with other people who circulate in the work area or adjoining spaces.

Finally, the  HLS High Load Sensor warns forklift drivers as soon as it detects that the loads picked up exceed the permitted heights or predefined measurements. Specifically, the driver of a forklift that incorporates the HLS system gets a luminous and sound alert when taking on a load that exceeds the limited allowed, thus preventing him/her from moving in a way that would be unsafe and could lead to an accident.

Do you have any doubts about these devices? Is there anything we can assist you with? Please, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Accidents are bound to happen – whether we invest all our efforts in education or whether we broadcast key safety and prevention regulations. However, we can take measures to cushion the impact that unforeseen events may have on us, on our work team or on our machinery. At Claitec we work towards this goal.

The Fall Protection System (FPS) is one of our most helpful developments in this aspect – a true ally when working in dangerous areas. This development consists of a retractile safety device anchored to a fixed element and connected to the worker’s safety harness. When a fall occurs the system is responsible for stopping the functioning of the machine and prevent any possible risks and greater damages.

The system is simple to install, and it consists of an anchorage point, an anti-fall mechanism, a retractable steel cable and a safety harness. When working in dangerous areas, the person must hook his or her harness to the retractable cable at the fixed mooring point so that if a fall occurs the anti-fall device will detect the situation and instantly send the signal to stop the plant’s machinery preventing the worker from falling towards other areas that might injure him or her further.

The shape and structure of the fixed mooring point should be sufficient to prevent the automatic disconnection and sliding of the device. The use of marked and certified fixed mooring points is recommended as stated by the European standard EN795.

Likewise, the pieces that make up the FPS system stand out for their durability and robustness, ensuring its correct operation in intensive work spaces and industrial zones that may require its permanent use. The system can be perfectly used in a wide range of hazardous areas of work such as in spaces with presses, shredders and compactors working actively – among many other possibilities.

The FPS is a great ally for our customers’ daily work and increasingly more companies are requesting the installation of this system in their work spaces. In addition, the FPS has been successfully complemented with the hazardous areas solution, of which we have spoken in previous posts. It’s important not to forget that, although today there are several retractable safety systems, the FPS system developed by Claitec is the first to warn and completely stop the machinery to protect the worker.

If you are keen to find out more about this system or would like further information about any of our products, don’t hesitate to contact us.

In other posts we’ve referenced Claitec’s commitment to innovation as one of the core values ​​that guide our daily work. Innovation helps us improve the service we offer our customers, however, we also feel that sometimes innovation must pay lip service to a common goal for all which, in this case, is our care for the environment.

Claitec has been committed for a long time to becoming an increasingly ecofriendly company. That’s why our goal is to advance in that direction and that’s why we attained the ISO 14001 environmental management systems certification for our processes – so that our commitment goes beyond mere words.

Our next challenge, – and one we’ve already made some important strides in -, consists in implementing as many Ecodesign techniques in our products as possible. This way we will ensure we’re heading in the right direction to optimize the environmental impact of our products at each stage of their life cycle.

What does Ecodesign mean exactly?

To produce, use and dispose of products generates a flow of materials, many of which can have a negative impact on the environment, whether in the form of pollution or in the form of waste. The Ecodesign or Products Ecology is responsible for studying this flow of materials resulting from product manufacturing, and it develops methods to reduce the negative effects on the environment.

The main objectives of Eco-design include:

• To minimise the use of materials and energy,
• To replace other materials that demonstrate improved environmental performance,
• To recover materials that can be reused.

Ecodesign in the life cycle of an industrial product

In order to put the theory in practice, a breakdown of the Ecodesign goals in each of the stages in the typical life cycle of an industrial product was also created:

Design: While it appears that the design of a product cannot have a real environmental impact, it is in fact, the stage that decides the type of materials that will be used and their quantity. In other words, the designer will have a direct impact on all the other stages of the cycle as far as their level of environmental friendliness is concerned.

Manufacturing: The goal of this stage is to improve the knowledge and decisions on the use of materials, waste reduction and pollution prevention. It also aims to minimise the amount of waste generated during the manufacturing process, to facilitate as much as possible the reutilisation of the materials and, of course, to make energy consumption as efficient as possible.

Product use: There are two main dimensions as far as adopting the most environmentally friendly use of a product but both are achieved in the same way: using the product in a responsible and efficient manner. The first dimension consists in using the product the bare minimum so as not to process materials and consume energy in vain. The second is to take care of the product in order to extend its life to the maximum. The longer a product lasts, the less materials and energy will be needed to make a replacement.

Recycling: This is the ultimate goal of all products made ecologically, i.e. that the vast majority of their materials can be reused. As mentioned above, this stage depends directly on product design, but it is also important to respect, and ensure that we are effectively leveraging reusable materials.