A programme of specialist seminar sessions took place on the Hyster stand everyday at IMHX 2013 from 19-22 March at the NEC, Birmingham.

Seminar topics included 'Profitable low emissions', 'Simulation and solutions for warehousing', and 'Intelligent design for demanding applications' and the Hyster specialists were available for questions after each session.

The 'Profitable low emissions' seminar, presented by Chris van de Werdt, Sales Manager Big Trucks for Hyster Europe looked at how ReachStackers, Empty Container Handlers and High Capacity forklift trucks can offer very significant fuel savings and deliver a low cost of operation.

Chris used a customer's experience to show examples of how, after the first months of operating Hyster® Big Trucks for handling shipping containers of all sizes in high intensity terminal and stevedoring applications, Katoen Natie measured savings of up to 20%. The company measured a 6l/h (litre per hour) saving per truck, which over a 5-6 year period, could amount to 90,000 litres saved.

VNA and Warehouse Systems Specialist for Hyster, Paul Smith, presented a 'Simulation and solutions for warehousing' seminar. It demonstrated how warehouse simulation software from Hyster can be used to support the decision making process, by calculating throughput and configuring the layout of the operation as well as the number and types of truck required.

Paul presented three simulation scenarios to demonstrate different types of problem solving the software can be used for. He showed how it can be used for truck selection, by comparing a reach truck with a VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) truck. Further simulation scenarios included solving congestion problems by looking at and comparing warehouse layout, with simulation for coping with seasonal demand.

Hyster offers one of the widest materials handling product ranges from ReachStackers and Empty Container Handlers to diesel, LPG and electric forklift trucks, through to small warehouse equipment such as Reach trucks and Pedestrian Pallet trucks.

The 'Intelligent design for demanding applications' seminar, exploring the range of tough Hyster trucks built for demanding applications, was presented by Russell Baker, Territory Manager for Hyster Europe. He explained how, for example, a space saving compact Hyster® Fortens® forklift truck is used in operations with limited space and high lift capacity requirements.

A fertiliser manufacturer in the UK operates a 7 tonne compact Hyster® Fortens® forklift, which is reported to be the narrowest and shortest of its type. Trucks from other brands with that lift capacity are physically much larger.