June 2010

Telehandlers and Forklifts

The Birth of a Product

Hyundai is meeting market challenges head-on with a new line of diesel forklift trucks.

By Robert Urry

As the market continues to become more competitive, companies are looking for ways to give their customers added value and superior innovation.
Hyundai Construction Equipment is approaching the challenges of today’s trying economy by getting to the heart of the matter: provide new and improved products that give customers the opportunity to maximize profits and take on bigger jobs.

For example, Hyundai is introducing a new line of diesel forklift trucks, the 7E Series. Some of the major improvements Hyundai has made to its new line of forklifts are the installation of a rearview camera; the Engine Start Limit (ESL) system; an excellent combination of driving components enabling for lower fuel consumption rates and higher power output; innovative noise reduction technology; and overall truck design.

“We’ve listened to the market, taken what we learned, and implanted that in our product development to produce a product that meets important market requirements,” says Chuck Leone, national sales manager for Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas. “There’s no better voice to listen to when designing a new product than that of our customer.”

Throughout the product-development process Hyundai puts its forklifts through a series of rigorous tests to assure that when customers take delivery of the product and put it to work, they’ll feel confident their material-handling needs will be met.

As work hours have become longer and operators spend more time in their machines, operator comfort has come to the forefront of every purchasing decision. Hyundai has met this need by designing cabins packed with ergonomic features, designed with the operator’s comfort in mind. The new design is aimed at reducing operator fatigue, while increasing efficiency, resulting in maximum work output.

One such feature is the centralized design of the dashboard in the cabin. This design puts all the instrumentation in one location, making these instruments easily accessible to the operator. With adjustable steering wheel and column, plus a full-suspension seat, the operator will have comfortable and plenty of room, no matter his size. Regardless of the environment outside, the operator can adjust the cabin’s air conditioning or heat to find the perfect comfort zone.

Environmentally friendly engines reduce the noise levels in the operator’s cabin considerably, along with outside exhaust gas levels, to make simultaneous indoor and outdoor operations possible. The auto cruise (or cruise control) button allows the operator travel at a constant speed, while reducing fuel consumption during trips. The front window has been designed to give the operator maximum visibility for safe operation, while traveling through the worksite.

“Operator’s are being asked to work longer hours and increase their productivity, while maintaining the same level of safety and awareness as before,” says Leone. “Whether loading ships, moving bricks, or simply stacking and filling racks in a warehouse, operator performance is the key to success in any job. Our product provides operators with an environment that allows them to achieve that performance.”

Hyundai believes that serviceability is key, and has added new features to their Diesel Trucks that allow quick and easy servicing. The application of the one-touch, hydraulically powered, tilting-type cabin allows maintenance work to be done easily and efficiently. The 7E Series forklift features the Engine Control Module (ECM), which instantly checks and analyzes engine conditions using the engine’s Electronic Service Tool. This allows for quick and immediate maintenance, reducing downtime and getting your operator right back to work.

The current market requires machines that can be used in various applications. You need power, strength and size, but most of all you need control. The 7E Series allows the operator to maneuver the forklift in even the tightest of areas by reducing the turning radius and providing the ability to climb incline grades of up to 15.4 degrees while carrying cargo. With the turbo-charged Tier 3 Cummins QSB 6.7 Engine provides optimal power to the 7E Series forklift. Power also has been added to the forklift’s lifting capacity with its Power Lift.

“When a potential customer is making his purchasing decision, we want him to think about five things: power, performance, comfort, serviceability and profit,” says Leone. “With all the obstacles a customer is facing right now in the market, Hyundai is committed to providing the best product out there, proving a wise purchasing decision was made when that customer ‘thought Hyundai.’”

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