Two-man delivery specialist ArrowXL has invested more than £1m (US$1.3m) with forklift manufacturer UniCarriers to upgrade its material handling equipment across its network. In total, 53 pieces of specialist machinery have been ordered in time for the Black Friday peak period this November to further enhance productivity within its hubs.
The order includes a number of UniCarriers’ specialist high-reach trucks that can operate at a height of 13.8m (45ft), which according to UniCarriers is the highest in the industry. The company has also acquired several PMR compact low lifters with a load capacity of up to two tons, which can be operated on foot or via a foldable operator platform.
The new equipment will be distributed across ArrowXL’s national network of five hubs and 18 satellite bases. Each vehicle has an integrated fleet management system to provide real-time information on any incidents or damage, enabling ArrowXL to quickly identify any issues that need addressing, including additional training and health and safety.
This substantial investment follows the completion of a £1.7m (US$2.2m) high-bay pallet racking system at its warehouse in Wigan earlier this year, doubling the existing capacity at the hub.
Charlie Shiels, chief operations officer at ArrowXL, said, “While we continue to further strengthen our extensive network of hubs and depots across the UK, it is equally important that we utilize the latest and most sophisticated machinery on the market to maximize efficiency.
“The proficiency of the operation within our warehouses directly correlates with the level of service we can deliver on behalf of our retail clients, and we are therefore committed to constant improvement.”
Alex Grice, sales executive at UniCarriers, said, “We are extremely proud to supply ArrowXL with a range of our industry-leading materials handling equipment. The company will benefit from a portfolio of products that meet high demands in terms of technology, quality, ergonomics and design, while supported by a full maintenance contract and VOM, an online fleet management system which are all part of the UniCarriers 360 concept.”
October 23, 2017