Lowestoft-based Nexen Lift Trucks - a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of forklift trucks and warehouse equipment - has launched the FBXT and FBX, the company’s latest electric additions to its premium, UK-built X-Range series.

Commenting for Nexen Lift Trucks, sales director Pamela Oakes says: “We are delighted to announce the launch of the FBXT and FBX to our X-Range. These eagerly awaited models have undergone exhaustive pre-launch application tests and have exceeded design expectations for stability, reliability, driver comfort, performance and energy efficiency.”

She goes on to say that as part of the continuing expansion plans for its UK-based manufacturing facility, the research, design, development and production of the new electric counterbalanced forklifts was undertaken at Nexen’s European headquarters in Lowestoft, rather than those the company owns in Taiwan. This allows Nexen, which has over 40-years’ experience in the materials handling sector, to place the design and production in the hands of some of Britain’s top designers and engineers.

A strong emphasis during the design process ensures these machines provide class-leading performance, with the 3-wheel FBXT and 4-wheel FBX counterbalanced electric forklifts offering lifting capacities from 1,600 to 2,000kg. Both are available in long- and short-wheel-base formats, providing a productive and energy-efficient solution for numerous indoor/outdoor lifting applications.

All models offer the latest technological advancements associated with the material handling industry, including high-capacity, DIN-STD batteries for multiple-shift operations. Both models are built to the highest exacting standards using premium quality components which, combined with Nexen’s signature X-Range fully-floating cabin design, provides exceptional operator comfort and superior ergonomics that dramatically reduces driver fatigue.

Nexen’s FBXT and FBX electric forklifts feature regenerative braking to enhance battery life and improve energy efficiency. An automatic parking brake ensures no adjustments are required, which further reduces equipment maintenance requirements. Numerous options are also available for Nexen’s X-Range, including operator presence, fingertip controllers, load weighing systems, etc.

Like all Nexen forklift trucks, the electric-powered X-Range series has been designed with an emphasis on ease of maintenance and features class-leading accessibility to all serviceable parts, including the complete control panel, which can be completely removed in less than two minutes. Nexen will offer a unique service exchange programme to ensure downtime is kept to the absolute minimum. To further enhance accessibility, an optional fully-tilting cabin feature is also available; all models feature rapid and stress-free side entry battery removal.

The FBXT and FBX are the latest in Nexen’s line-up of counterbalanced forklift trucks and add to an ever-increasing portfolio of X-Range models that already incorporates diesel and L.P.G. machines up to 5,000kg. X-Range trucks have been designed with the versatility of logistics and warehousing sectors in mind; and Nexen is expecting these latest additions to be a global success, with the company’s strong international dealer network having already placed strong pre-launch orders.

Summarising, Pam Oakes says that the need for many operators to review their environmental impact and carbon footprint is leading to many traditional internal combustion(IC) applications being forced to change to electric power. However, the high-duty cycles associated with traditional IC applications means electric vehicles have to provide similar levels of performance and productivity, because they were designed from the ground up, Nexen’s FBXT and FBX models have technology that’s built in to provide an unprecedented combination of performance, productivity and cost-effectiveness, without having to compromise on operator comfort and safety.