They may be unfashionable …. but diesel forklifts are proving the perfect workhorses in a host of industries where the demand is for power, durability, and 100% availability.
Announcing the launch of the next-gen Mitsubishi GRENDiA diesel counterbalance in capacities from 2.0 to 5.5 tonnes, Stewart Gosling of RDD, UK distributor for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks reveals where they come into their own… and why.
“There are many demanding industries where customers buy diesel trucks outright and then run them for ten, fifteen, or even twenty years” says Gosling.
“New emission standards mean they are cleaner than ever, and they overcome the power-supply issues whereby electricity companies can’t or won’t upgrade the supply to meet the charging requirements of lithium-ion batteries.”
Not all diesel forklifts are created equal
Gosling is keen to emphasise that not all diesel trucks are created equal.
Since the introduction of Euro Stage V regulations on emissions some manufacturers have opted for auto-based engines. Not so Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks. It broke ranks by developing a state-of-the art, high-torque, cambelt-free, 3 ltr industrial engine incorporating diesel particulate filters and oxidation catalysts along with exhaust gas recirculation valves to reduce noise, cut fuel consumption and minimise emissions.
