Toyota Material Handling UK has produced a video, educating viewers on selecting the right transmission for their engine-powered forklifts.

Earlier this year Toyota launched hydrostatic transmission (HST) on the Toyota Tonero engine-powered forklift range up to 3.5 tonne. The launch was eagerly anticipated at Toyota as they can put customers’ operational needs first and offer the safest truck on the market with a choice of either torque converter or hydrostatic transmission at no extra cost.

The Toyota Tonero engine powered forklift truck range is available with a choice of industrial engines; gas or diesel, plus all models include Toyota’s unique System of Active Stability that helps to protect the operators and increase productivity.

Many companies are unaware of the impact the choice of transmission can have on the productivity of an operation, and it was important to Toyota to help make customers aware of the differences and help them to decide which transmission would be best suited to their operation; Toyota felt the best way of explaining this would be to produce a video. The video includes the benefits of each transmission and a technical explanation of how they work.

Dave Rylance, Product Manager at Toyota explains “We are all constantly looking for ways to improve the efficiency and productivity of forklifts that work within customers’ operations and we feel the best way to do this is to offer choice and support. Although we believe that 70% of forklift operations are more suited to torque converter transmission, the HST option on the Tonero forklift truck can be a beneficial for companies who are doing short runs, loading on ramps or where the operator is more familiar with the way this truck drives. The torque converter option offer powerful acceleration and the ability to coast”.

To help customers make the right choice, all Toyota sales representatives now have a simple purpose built consultative tool on their iPads to help support customers understand which transmission would be more suitable.

Rylance adds, “The video provides an introductory guide to transmissions, but if customers are unsure and want advice on the most suitable transmission for their operation they should get in touch with their local sales representative, who can come to site, look at the operation and talk through the different options”.