Veenstra|Fritom is a comprehensive logistics service provider. Their services include transport, warehousing, and logistics solutions. Groupage is an extension of their transport service, with crossdocking being an important component. Various goods are loaded and unloaded daily, including Euro pallets and pallets of different sizes, as well as many pallets significantly longer or wider than standard pallets, referred to as non-standard sizes.

The Impact of Fork Length on Forklift Efficiency and Safety

“The standard length of our forklift forks is 1000 mm, which can be a challenge when loading and unloading trucks,” says Rico Veenstra, head of Crossdock. “Forklift drivers need to be careful to prevent damage, especially if the forks are too long and extend beyond the pallet, potentially damaging the pallets behind it. This risk is even greater when handling long pallets with forks that are too short, which can cause the load to tip over, leading to possible damage or injury,” Veenstra explains. “A commonly used tool for handling non-standard pallets is the use of extension forks. These need to be retrieved and mounted each time a long pallet is encountered, which requires extra time and physical effort, as these larger forks often weigh more than 25-35 kg.”

A Leap in Efficiency: The Advantage of Hydraulic KOOI® Extendable Forks

20% Faster Unloading / 37% Faster Loading

“We have achieved a significant improvement in efficiency with the acquisition of new forklifts equipped with KOOI® ReachForks. The hydraulically extendable forks allow us to remove one or two pallets at a time from the truck, or non-standard long pallets. This increases unloading efficiency by about 20% and loading efficiency by approximately 37%, as the pallets are already optimally grouped by European postcode location after unloading. The extendable ReachForks offer great flexibility to safely transport pallets of various sizes and prevent load tipping, and have the advantage of handling multiple pallets at once. Additionally, the presence of the extendable KOOI®’s eliminates unnecessary extra crossdock movements. They also reduce the physical strain on the forklift driver, as there is no need to mount loose extension forks, saving a lot of time.”

The main benefits of KOOI® ReachForks include:

– The flexibility to extend and retract to the desired pallet length.

– The option to pick up one or multiple pallets.

– Significantly faster unloading and loading, increasing productivity.

– Increased efficiency means loading more trucks in the same timeframe.

– Variable fork length reduces the chance of damage.

– The ability to handle one or more pallets at once prevents extra handling.

– Significant energy savings by reducing the number of meters traveled.

– Reduction of physical strain and risk of injury from mounting loose extension forks.

Veenstra|Fritom is a family business that celebrated its 95th anniversary last year. It is a logistics service provider specializing in transport and warehouse activities. Veenstra|Fritom is part of the Fritom Group, one of the 30 largest logistics companies in the Netherlands for many years.