Training up to more flexible logistics
Training up to more flexible logistics
Clark Material Handling International has launched a tugger train system that addresses the specific requirements of industrial customers โ ensuring material transport over longer distances can be organised efficiently, safely and extremely flexibly.
The Clark tugger train is available as an all-in-one solution. It consists of the Clark CTX40-70 towing tractor with a towing capacity of 4 or 7ย t and the CTR01 and CTR02 trailers. โThe CTR01 trailer, designed as a single U-frame, is built for customers who mainly have to transport Euro pallets,โ explains Rolf Eiten, president and CEO of Clark Europe. โIt can accommodate a mobile trolley on which Euro pallets (1ย 200ย xย 800ย mm) with a maximum load capacity of 1ย 200ย kg can be transported.โ
The CTR02 Double U-Frame trailer can accommodate both Euro pallets and other types of pallets commonly used in industry. Via a sliding inner carrier, the operator can flexibly choose between a trolley measuring 1ย 600ย xย 1ย 000ย mm with a load capacity of up to 1ย 600ย kg or two trolleys for transporting Euro pallets with a load weight of 800ย kg each.
โThe Clark trailers allow ergonomic loading from both sides up to a total height of 1ย 400ย mm per trolley,โ Eiten points out. โNo matter from which side, the operator can push the smooth-running trolleys into the lifting system of the frame without much effort, which then automatically locks into place. Another advantage is that the operator can walk through the frame to get to the other side of the trailer.โ
The trailerโs electric lift system requires little maintenance and has a lift height of 60ย mm. A latching mechanism ensures that the trolleys are securely fixed in the frame. An immobiliser prevents the tugger train from starting up when the lift is lowered.
โFor coupling and uncoupling the trailers, a coupling with remote release is available in addition to the standard trailer coupling without remote release. This has the advantage that the tractors can automatically couple and uncouple additional trailers. The towing tractor can, for example, after delivering materials to the destination, uncouple the trailers and automatically couple empty trailers waiting there for the next โmilk-runโ. The tugger train can thus be flexibly integrated into other production processes.โ
The Clark trailers are designed to be very slim and robust. โThis makes the tugger train extremely compact and the operator has a good overview. However, its perfect directional stability is particularly noteworthy. This is guaranteed by the electrically steered wheels in the rear axle module: One trailer follows the other exactly in one lane both on a straight track and when cornering. As a result, the tugger train requires a small traffic area and can be used safely even in the tightest of spaces.โ
The CTR01 only requires an aisle width of 2ย 000ย mm for a 90ยฐย curve (with corner chamfer of 2ย xย 45ยฐ / 500ย mm and without encountering traffic). For the CTR02, the minimum aisle width required for a 90ยฐ curve under the same conditions is 2ย 500ย mm. The aisle width for a 180ยฐย curve (U-turn) is 4ย 500ย mm for the CTR01 and 5ย 500ย mm for the CTR02.
โThe heart of the modular tugger train system is the autonomous electric steering system,โ says Eiten. โThe advantage is that not only is it maintenance free, but it uses sensor information measured directly at the axle. Mechanical, hydraulic or electric steering information is not routed via the trailers and therefore does not have to be taken into account in the design of the load modules. The modular system allows free configurability with virtually no design restrictions. This means that individual customer requirements can be taken into account. The customer can easily exchange trailers via a standardised interface. This has the advantage that different trailers can also be combined to form a tugger train.โ