With the Moffett truck mounted forklifts having all wheel drive and locking differential, plus 10 to 12 inches ground clearance, there isn’t much that the Canadian winters can throw at it, that it can’t handle. Some owners have even installed a shovel on the forks for some quick snow removal jobs.

For great winter Moffett forklift performance, it’s important to keep up with the required maintenance and get it ready for winter. Here are some winter guidelines to help you keep your forklift running like a charm during the cold weather.

Moffett forklift engine heaters:

As with most of the equipment here at Atlas Polar, they come with the standard 110 volt block heater. All it takes is a long extension cord and plugging it into a standard household receptacle. Starting the forklift up is quick and easy. For added protection it’s a good idea to store the forklift indoors during the winter months. This way it’s shielded from the elements, and when you need to use it there shouldn’t be any problems starting it.

Another good choice for easy start up is to use a Diesel Fired Coolant Heater. This independent accessory can be working while you are driving to the job site. While you are driving this heater is powered by a small amount of voltage off the truck battery. This allows the coolant to be circulated through the heater and motor of the Moffett forklift. This type of heating system is great for long hauls, or if you don’t have access to the plug in for the block heater. Plus, another great feature is you can set it to operate off a timer.

Moffett fluids:

To get the best that these forklifts have to offer, it’s a good idea to use a top quality premium hydraulic fluid like Hydrex XV. This fluid has a wide working range, and it reaches viscosity quickly, which helps with an easy start up. It’s economical as well because it has a wide temperature range, so it only needs changing once a year.

We recommend the 10w30 or 5w30 engine oils. We have found that the light oils make it easier to fire up the engine.

Something else that we like to see used in the forklifts is a good quality diesel fuel conditioner. It should have the ability to remove any condensation that may be in the fuel and defreeze fuel lines that may have frozen.

These  forklifts come from Ireland with an additive added to the fuel lines to prevent freezing during the shipping time.

Premium batteries:

Not that long ago, Atlas Polar upgraded all of the Moffett forklift batteries to higher cold amp crank ratings. This really helps with engine start up when the equipment is cold or has been sitting dormant for a period of time.

Important Moffett accessories:

One of the most popular accessories for the Moffett forklifts is the self enclosed cabs. These are safely mounted to the overhead guard and they will provide you with some great protection against the weather. They are spacious and allow for good visibility with their glass enclosure. They have front and rear wipers as well as a built in fan and heater.

All Moffett forklifts come with a seat cover and a water proof container that holds the operator’s manual and a very detailed DVD for the operation and maintenance of the forklifts.

Winter quick tips for operating and maintaining the Moffett forklifts:

All that is really required to make working with the Moffett a breeze in the winter months is:

• Keep up on its 90 day or 200 hour servicing.
• Stay on schedule with its regular maintenance.
• Keep the equipment clean, especially the channels of the carriages.
• Use rust inhibitor oils.
• Remove the key from the ignition to prevent water seepage by allowing the built-in safety latch to close properly.
• When the forklift has started, let it run for a bit to circulate the oil.
• Don’t use the hydraulics until they have warmed up.
• Give the carriage and forks a trial run.
• Ease into the directional pedal.
• Make use of the glow plugs that are a standard feature on these forklifts. These are engaged by a simple twist of the key and are meant to warm up the piston chamber.

Make it a habit to do a circle check:

The circle check only takes a few minutes to carry out and it ensures that the machine is in proper working order, there is no obvious physical damage, and the forks are in prime condition. It’s a great time to check for kinks, stretching, or any type of damage to the chains. All of the lights can be checked and cleaned at this time as well. Just so you don’t miss anything, there is as an easy check sheet you can make use of at the Atlas Polar website. Plus in the operator’s manual there is also a checklist and some great details for greasing the equipment.

If you find that you aren’t using your forklift that much during the winter, you still want it ready to go when it’s needed. You can do this by keeping it charged with a battery charger. As long as you have changed the filters and the hydraulic oil in the fall, and you drain out any condensation to prevent freezing, then you should be good to go.

Something else that you want to keep in mind is when you are cleaning the chains. Some operators like to use a power washer to do this. It’s important that you do get all of the dirt and salt build up out of the chains to keep them in good operating condition, but remember to lubricate them and the carriage slider with a light lubricant afterwards. You may also want to use compressed air or a solvent to ensure that all the water has been removed from the chain links.

Getting and keeping the Moffett forklifts in prime winter condition is really quite easy. Just remember to make sure the machine has had its annual servicing and inspection. You want to be sure that all the structural components and the indicator lamps are all working as they should be.

Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions. We’d be happy to help.

Moffett forklifts have found use in many industries across the world. They are now being used for transporting automobiles like high end motorcycles and cars for rallies and other events to various venues. UK based transport group WMB (We Move Bikes) is making use of Moffett M4 forklifts to assist with the delivery system of the company.

A pioneer in transporting vehicles in large trucks, WMB conducts road shows across the UK featuring Harley Davidson bikes. Additionally, they are known for distributing heavy cargo like automobiles throughout Europe. To help with its endeavors, WMB has employed two Moffett M4 forklifts to do the heavy duty work.

The M4 forklifts face no trouble carrying heavy and expensive automobiles and loading them into cargo trucks. Providing safe, stable and precise operations, the Moffett M4 provides superior performance. With its high power engines and stable handling of heavy vehicles, it comes as no surprise that the Moffett M4 is a favorite with companies like WMB.

WMB regularly hosts Harley Davidson road shows and gets to the event on time, thanks to the speedy and firm load handling of the M4. In fact, WMB showed off the prowess of the Moffett M4 by loading 28 bikes into the cargo truck in astonishingly short time! Take a look at the Video that they did and was posted on Youtube. An impressive feat achieved by the M4, the forklift provides a quick and sturdy support when loading Harley Davidson bikes. Effortless in handling as well as power consumption, the Moffett M4 is a cost effective and energy efficient addition to any company’s heavy machinery arsenal.

 

 

In mid-September 2012, Moffett crossed an important production milestone after rolling out the 50,000th Moffett truck-mounted forklift. The assembly line of the Ireland plant at Dundalk produced this landmark forklift. For the last forty years, the Moffett truck mounted forklift has seen great innovation and development in the transport industry.

Over the decades, the truck mounted forklift from Moffett has enabled quicker deliveries and safe transportation for small and large companies all over the world. The Moffett truck mounted forklifts are useful in many other areas than just transportation, making them a worthy accessory for all companies. A unique feature of the Moffett forklift is its off-road capability. Moffett’s M-range forklifts have been constantly refined and fine tuned over the years of excellent performance and reliable service.

The M-range was recently expanded to the E-range that will soon be launched by early next year. The E-range consists of the first truck mounted forklift in the world that is powered by a Li-ion battery, making it an environmentally sound machine. The zero emission range of forklifts from Moffett is suitable for outdoor and indoor use and possesses excellent capabilities. The E-range forklift is energy efficient and meets all standards of minimizing noise pollution and fuel consumption.

The multi-assembly unit at Dundalk is the company’s centre of excellence for its extensive research on truck mounted forklifts. The plant also conducts research on production and development of Moffett products that are exported and distributed to over thirty five countries worldwide. Known for their quality, reliability and advanced technologies, the success of the Moffett forklifts has been credited to a committed workforce, talented engineers and technologies enhanced significantly since 1967.

 

 

If you think electric cars are good for the environment, wait till you hear about the Moffett E2. This environment-friendly truck mounted forklift has all-electric operation, which translates into zero CO2 emissions. This interesting load handling solution was previewed at the 2012 RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam this week.

The electric E2 is an extension of the Moffett M-Series. Sharing the successful M2′s chassis, the E2 offers the kind of reliability that is associated with its parent model. Its lift capacity is rated at 1200 kg.

The forklift’s zero emissions and quiet operation make it well-suited for both indoor and outdoor applications, as well as night-time deliveries in semi-industrial and urban areas. The E2 comes with Cargotec’s Pro Future™ certification, which is the company’s own designation for products with a smaller footprint. To qualify as a Cargotec’s Pro Future™ model, the E2 passed industry-leading criteria measuring among other things, emissions, energy efficiency and recyclability.

How does it work? It comes with an on-board charger that can be charged from a domestic plug socket or trickle charged. Its state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries offer long operating hours and consistent performance.

To aid night-time use, the Moffett E2 has LED road lights and work lights, as well as a digital display that interacts with the CAN BUS wiring system. A silent helical gear pump driving the hydraulic components ensures noise-less operation.

The Moffett E2 truck mounted forklift has been nominated for the SV Innovation Award that honors innovative designs in the transport industry. The new Moffett should be available in Canada in early 2013.

 

 

Customizing a truck for an eye-caching look is one thing, but personalizing the forklift mounted on it is another! That’s exactly what Finnish transport company Trans Härmä Oy has done with its HIAB Moffett M4 25.3. The truck mounted forklift has been painted in the colors that match its parent vehicle, and even customized with matching chrome parts. This vehicle-forklift combo is meant for show purposes, with Trans Härmä Oy taking part in many Swedish and Finnish shows.

The orange-and-black (with other design elements) forklift has been featured in the latest issue of HIAB Method magazine. Trans Härmä Oy transports window packages, which makes the choice of the HIAB Moffett M4 25.3 ideal. The forklift has been designed for door and window deliveries, amongst other applications like delivering building materials and fertilizers, distributing LPG and industrial gas, and waste management.

But work holds precedence over all else, of course, and in the performance department, the HIAB Moffett M4 25.3 has met all expectations. It has a 2.5 tonne capacity, and the versatility to work on both off-road surfaces and paved roads.

What is more, this is the first truck-mounted forklift in Finland to come with a radio control. The Moffett Ground Mount radio control allows the driver to lower and raise the forklift from the mounting kit and ground level respectively. Trans Härmä Oy CEO Visa Valkonen says that the M4 25.3 has made unloading more convenient for the driver and added more efficiency as well as swiftness to the process.

Anyone looking for truck-mounted equipment from Alberta’s factory-authorized sales and service outlet ARW Truck Equipment, can now visit www.arwtruck.com to get a wealth of information. ARW offers equipment from top manufacturers, like HIAB cranes, Moffett forklifts, Multilift hooklifts and Elliott stiff booms.

The company’s new site lists and explains all the available truck mounted equipment from the leading brands that it represents. In fact, ARW offers the largest selection of forklifts, hooklifts and picker trucks in the province. The product line caters to a vast range of applications and serves the material handling needs of several industries.

Basic specs apart, the descriptions clearly outlines key features of hooklifts, boom truck cranes and forklifts. Important and accurate product information for purchasers and owner/operators is presented clearly. Every product page also contains a PDF brochure that provides useful information and tips to those looking to invest in truck mounted equipment. You can also get a quick peek into the new arrivals at ARW Truck Equipment on the Home Page, where they are listed prominently (job seekers can also identify open positions at ARW in this list).

Excellent reliability is the hallmark of the branded truck mounted equipment available for sale on the ARW Truck Equipment site. Light duty and heavy duty cranes from top manufacturer HIAB have proven their performance, safety and durability for several years now. Moffett truck-mounted forklifts offer excellent maneuverability and many years of exceptional service. ARW also sells Multilift hooklifts, known for their versatility and for facilitating quick deliveries. For heavier loads and higher lifting capacities, Elliott boom truck cranes from ARW offer several options to deliver the control and power required for different tasks.

ARW Truck Equipment provides training courses for operators who wish to hone equipment handling skills. Information about the courses offered, course content, pricing and other details are available on the website’s ‘Crane Training’ page. Dealer locations and addresses in Alberta, alongside Google Map for directions, are available on the site. Incorporating aesthetic design elements and all the information that potential buyers seek, www.arwtruck.com serves as a useful online resource.

The headquarters of the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Championship can be best described as unique. The structure is a testimony to modern engineering and architecture that enable the construction of state-of-the-art facilities in just a few days. There are many components, equipment and technicalities that went into the construction process. One of these was the Moffett forklift, which provided suitable assistance in assembling the elite and temporary Abu Dhabi WRC headquarters.

The HQ comprised 6 semi-trailers on two different levels. The Moffett forklift helped in transporting and lifting the building blocks of the HQ with ease, convenience and safety. A five-ton capacity HIAB crane at 18 meters provided suitable assistance in creating this structure. For the record, the headquarters consisted of eight offices, one kitchen, one physio room, and comfortably accommodated thirty-six staff members. It took eighteen men 576 hours to build the structure.

Moffett forklifts are known for their high performance and excellent reliability. They command one of the best resale-prices in the industry and are build to withstand even the toughest outdoor conditions. The forklift design is lightweight and allows maximization of truck loads while the short forklift overhang meets strict regulations on trailer length. The hydrostatic AWD (all-wheel drive) offers excellent maneuverability at industrial and residential sites. The compact, quiet and powerful Kubota diesel engines are reliable and strong. Moffett forklifts come equipped with these standard features, and handle the job at hand effortlessly.

While the WRC is one of the more unique projects that Moffett forklifts have been happy to serve, they are available in different designs and lifting capacities to handle a variety of job-specific requirements.

 

 

The paper recycling industry requires heavy bales of scrap paper and cardboard to be moved, the more efficiently the better. Moffett truck mounted forklifts have proven to be just the right tool for this job.

An article in the most recent edition of HIAB Method magazine notes that conventional collection vehicles are not as fast as Moffett forklifts for this particular task. “As the forks move up and down, it is easy to load and unload scrap paper bales, and the number of bales per load is higher….Its light-weight design and ability to mount/dismount in less than a minute allow users to pick up more bales, in less time, with increased payload capacity.”

Moffett truck mounted forklifts are available in a wide range of lifting capacities and models including multi-directional units for handling long length loads in tight spaces, low profile units for low overhead deliveries, wide frame models for handling wide storage and waste containers, and Pantograph and Lift Assist® models for providing double reach same-side unloading of trucks and trailers.

Get a Quote on a Knuckle Boom Crane

Seeing Atlas Polar and a bevy of HIAB cranes at provincial and national trade shows is a regular occurrence today but how about back in 1967?

The seventh edition of HIAB Method magazine highlights a trade show held in Toronto at which Atlas Polar “put on show a HIAB 174 Speedloader equipped with a 5-h.p. electric motor to supply it with pressurised oil.” The show was attended by about 75,000 people from across North America, who saw the “Boom with Reeeeeach” put through its paces in live demonstrations of the crane’s many capabilities.

You’ll continue to find Atlas Polar at many industry-specific trade shows in landscape, construction, general cartage and more, meeting with customers and suppliers. Today we not only show the full range of HIAB knuckleboom cranes but also the many other products we have to offer: Moffett truck mounted forklifts, Multilift hooklifts, Mixveyor concrete conveyors, and Cleasby roofing conveyors.

Stay tuned to our blog for information about upcoming shows we will be attending.

You’re quite likely to see one of our truck mounted HIAB cranes, Moffett forklifts and Multilifts on the road just about every day you’re on the highways and byways across Canada. But one thing that you won’t normally see unless you’re tooting around a large warehousing facility is an “Ottawa” style Kalmar terminal tractor. Cargotec, the parent company for the HIAB, Moffett and Multilift branded products is also well recognized for these purpose built vehicles.

Recently, Cargotec announced the production of its 50,000th terminal tractor at its manufacturing facility in Ottawa, Kansas. The achievement is significant in its own right, but even more so when you consider that the 50,000 mark was reached far faster by Cargotec than its competitors—a sign of Cargotec’s expertise in producing world-class materials handling equipment.

As David Wood, Cargotec Director of Terminal Tractors in North America stated, “Our market leadership in terminal tractors is the result of our dedicated people, willingness to adapt to customers’ needs, and ability to produce productive, cost effective machines.”

Congratulations to everyone at the Ottawa plant for this amazing accomplishment!