Industry stats from the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) have revealed that LPG is increasing in popularity in the forklift market place. For the second consecutive month, LPG has outsold diesel and in June 2010, sales of LPG fuelled counterbalance fork lift trucks took a 188% increase over the previous month’s sales. BITA figures also show that monthly LPG sales have increased year-on-year every month since May.

The BITA retail delivery statistics are announced monthly, providing an overview of the UK fork lift truck market and the number of products sold, breaking down market share by fuel type. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered fork lift trucks now account for 30.2% of all counterbalance fork lift trucks sold in 2010.

Calor’s fork lift truck specialist, Jim Moyes, says the figures come as no surprise as more and more operators realise the benefits of LPG. He explains, “The benefits of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the forklift market have been widely recognised over recent years with all of the major equipment manufacturers now offering LPG models in their product ranges.

“LPG avoids the lengthy charging periods associated with electric trucks and, as a cleaner burning fuel than diesel, LPG results in less potential for oil contamination and reduced overall engine wear. What’s more, lower carbon emissions from engines means that they can be used inside in sensitive environments as well as outside on more difficult terrains.

Highlighting the advantages of choosing Calor as a supplier, Jim says, “We work closely with customers to identify their individual needs and offer a fuel solution totally tailored to their operation. LPG supply goes far beyond merely the supply of gas or the fuel price. Discussions with an LPG expert with the right technical capability can ensure a hassle free conversion to LPG as well as providing a package of ongoing technical support, safety assurance and training.”

Fork lift truck specialists from Calor will be available on the company’s stand at IMHX later this year to explain face-to-face the benefits of running an LPG-powered fork lift truck fleet, as well as the unique advances Calor is making in the forklift market, including: larger capacity fixed fuel tanks that can reduce downtime; Magnatract cylinder technology that eliminates the risk of interruptions in your fuel supply; and safety test ‘date stamps’ that are placed on every single Calor forklift cylinder. Calor also offers certified on- or off-site customer training to ensure staff can enjoy the benefits of LPG safely.