Yale Forklift: A Dependable Key To Workplace Productivity
The Yale forklift is made by Yale Materials Handling Corporation, a global organization that is part of the NACCO Materials Handling Group. The company is a national leader in providing a full line of high-performance, high-quality forklifts (lift trucks), with revenues amounting to $1.5 billion in 2009. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and distributes a full line of trucks under the Yale forklift brand.
The Yale forklift brand encompasses a whole range of lift trucks: Class I (Electric Rider Trucks), Class II (Narrow Aisle Trucks), Class III (Motorized Hand Trucks), Class IV (Cushion Tire Trucks), and Class V (Pneumatic Tire Trucks). These trucks are manufactured in the company’s plants in the US, UK, the Netherlands, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and Scotland. A network of authorized Yale forklift dealers around the world sells new units and replacement parts, as well as provides support and various services to customers.
Critical Components In A Yale Forklift
Yale Forklift
Yale boasts of over 80 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of forklifts. The company has backed its claim of being the leader in lift truck manufacturing by using industrial grade critical components in its products.
The company believes that these components contribute to the productive value and economic lifeof a Yale forklift. The company strives to design every component for strength, dependability, and reliability.
• For Electric Riders:
o Motor – the motor a Yale forklift ensuresmovement and lift at required productivity, doesn’t have brushes to reduce maintenance costs, has a simplified integration of the steering motor with the hydraulic motor, and is insulated for superior heat resistance
o Drive Axle – are made with high strength metal to resist stress from directional changes, housing to absorb shock and vibration, comes with power assisted brakes
o Electrical System – implements a technology to reduce wires and connections, connections are sealed from moisture and dirt, and has a thermal management system
o Hydraulics – fitted with seals to prevent leakage, fine filter (10-micron) keeps the hydraulic fluid clean, cast iron valve sections provide rigidity and serviceability
o Steer Axle – iron axles provide piece integrity, roller bearings are used to absorb loading weights, maintenance-free design and stability enhancement system
o Mast – load rollers absorb front-back and side-to-side forces, rollers prevent excessive wear
• For Narrow Aisle Forklifts:
o Reach Assembly Rear Carrier – Yale forklift uses rollers to resist side to side forces, and reduce forces on the reach arm mechanism, wires and hoses are routed on a protective track,
o Mast – incorporates rolled steel to reduce wear on mast channels, brass wear plugs improve rigidity and allow for periodic adjustment without disassembly, and trunnion mounting that distributes vibration and shock
o Frame and Outriggers – heavy duty construction directly welded to the frame, uses thick gussets of high strength steel, has unitized frame design for better rigidity and protection
o Hydraulics – leak free connections without fittings and thread sealants, regenerative lowering to increase battery life and reduce heat of hydraulic oil, powered lowering increases unloading speed, uses transistors and not contactors to reduce operating costs
o Electrical – employs digital technology to reduce wiring and connections and enable diagnostics, connectors are sealed from moisture and debris, solid-state sensors and switches without moving parts, thermal management to monitor temperature and protect components, on-board computer monitors and protects Yale forklift functions
o Operator’s Compartment – ergonomically designed and spacious, features electric steering for precision and minimal effort; provides padding and cushioning to protect operator from vibrations and shocks; adjustable backrest, handle, armrest to optimize controls for different operator sizes
o Motors –AC motors lowers maintenance costs by eliminating the brushes and commutator, power wires do not move or flex during turns
• For Internal Combustion Engines (ICE):
o Powertrain – rugged powertrain with computer-managed engine and transmission, engines in an ICE Yale forkliftare provided by top manufacturers such as GM, Mazda, Cummins, and Yanmar; features electronic powershift transmission; auto deceleration; isolated drive axle and steer axle to reduces noise and vibration in the operator compartment
o Electrical – has reduced wiring and electrical connections; connections are sealed; sensors and switches have no moving parts and are sealed; wiring with one routing path, color-coded, and placed away from heat sources
o Hydraulics –leak-free and without fittings and thread sealants; features industrial grade hydraulic components such as heavy duty valves, fine filters, and durable hoist and tilt cylinders; control valve is placed away from heat sources
o Mast – a Yale forklift has an industry proven mast with rolled steel channel for strength, load rollers for support in lifting and lowering; and chrome plated rust to resist corrosion
o Cooling – optimized air paths; runs at lower operating temperatures; uses high capacity radiators
o Frame – unitized design and subjected to computer-assisted laboratory and application testing
Yale forklift product line
• Yale Electric Rider (2,000 – 12,000 lb.)
• Yale Narrow Aisle (3,000 – 5,000 lb.)
• Yale Motorized Hand (2,000 – 8,000 lb.)
• Yale Cushion I.C.E. (3,000 – 15,000 lb.)
• Yale Pneumatic I.C.E. (3,000 – 36,000 lb.)
