Batteries and battery management systems from Hoppecke Industrial Batteries have helped a UK builders’ merchant and home improvement retailer to save around £250,000 a year on the costs of running a fleet of counterbalance and reach trucks.
In its distribution centres, the Travis Perkins Group wanted to move away from using internal combustion (IC) engine trucks to electric machines, and as part
of a £5m contract with Briggs Equipment were supplied with 57 counterbalance Yale trucks on a three-year contract. Hoppecke supplied trak air batteries, 52 high frequency chargers, five battery changing systems and five trak monitor call forward and management systems. This was all backed up by the company’s Power for Life contract, which not only takes away any risks associated with managing batteries but is claimed to dramatically improve their operation.
Travis Perkins worked out that with the cost of the new trucks and their maintenance and fuel costs, it would save around £750,000 over the length of the contract. This includes the cost for Hoppecke to provide all battery filling and maintenance as well as the battery changing equipment.
