JCB’s new 35D 4×4 Wastemaster Plus Teletruk has been selected as a finalist in the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Awards for Excellence 2016 in the safety category.

The new machine - designed and built for the recycling and waste industry - features a range of new safety features, including greater operator protection and better visibility.

JCB Waste and Recycling Business Manager Fred Bell said: “Safety and innovation are key to everything JCB does and the Teletruk is an excellent example of that. We’re delighted that it has been selected as a finalist in this important category at these prestigious awards.”

The JCB Teletruk features a telescopic boom instead of a mast which offers a number of benefits over conventional forklifts. In particular, a Teletruk can reach forwards to lift and place loads quickly and safely, even in confined spaces. Operators can load and unload delivery trucks from one side - saving up to 50% of yard loading space - and they can drive right into shipping containers.

The forward reach means curtain-sided vehicles only need to be opened from one side, so site safety can be improved by separating forklift operations from pedestrians through clearly marked zones. The time and space saving capability of the JCB Teletruk make it an ideal materials handler for the waste and recycling industry.

Additional features on the Wastemaster Plus model include:
• An interlocking seatbelt meaning the operator can’t start the machine until the seatbelt is fastened
• All-round LED worklights and two additional LED low level mounted worklights for greater visibility for the operator and enhanced safety
• An air intake protective guard and valve block protective guard to help prevent debris from blocking the air intake or entering the engine compartment
• Additional hi-vis counterweight chevrons and distinctive Wastemaster branding to help visibility of the machine.