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Atlet as we know it today was born in 1974. Today the organisation employs in excess of 1000 workers, has activities in more than 30 countries around the world and boasts a combined turnover of around 150 million euros.
During its formative years as a company, Atlet manufactured hand pallet trucks and the first three of these machines were delivered in the autumn of 1958. A further 30 trucks were delivered in 1959 and the year after the production was doubled
to 60 trucks.
At this time pedestrian stackers and reach trucks were dominating the internal material handling market but company founder Knut Jacobsson was determined to bring innovation and something new to the sector. The result of this was the Stand Stacker, which offered lift capacities comparable with the reach truck but in more narrow aisles, all thanks to its patented side stabilisers.
At this relatively early stage Knut recognised the opportunities available in overseas markets and subsequently began to export the products, with fork lift trucks being first sold into Norway in 1962 and Holland two years later. This growing overseas business lead Atlet to establish its first subsidiary company in the UK in 1969, which was joined by a German equivalent in 1976. Today Atlet has additional subsidiaries in France, Benelux, Norway, Denmark and the US.
The early innovation that saw the development and creation of the Stand Stacker set the tone for Atlet and the organisation has been responsible for a conveyor belt of new products over the four decades since.
Atlet’s marketing manager Lars Gustafsson feels this emphasis on new product development is a key driver in the organisation’s ongoing success: “R&D is and has always been the key. Knut Jacobsson always had the ambition to be at the forefront of the development of warehouse trucks. Design, driver safety and ergonomics are extremely important areas. Life Cycle Cost rather than purchase price is key to us.”
This constant innovation from Atlet continues relentlessly today and as recently as January the organisation launched a range of new products onto the market. Its new generation series of high performance low-level order pickers is one high profile example. The Tempo PP, based on the all-new P-Type chassis that Atlet launched last year, is designed for picking orders from first and second levels in warehouse racking.
The truck combines high productivity with advanced ergonomics, and offers significantly reduced maintenance costs
In line with Atlet’s philosophy, unique in the lift truck business, of modular design and build, the new Tempo PP series offers a wide choice and permutation of options from which users can specify a truck precisely matching their own operational requirements. Two base versions are available, with the driver position fixed (for picking at first level) or rising (for picking at second level). Both can be supplied with either low- or high-lift forks to suit the type of picking regime adopted and the nature and volumes of the products to be picked. All of these variants can be supplied with standard tiller arm steering or, as an option, Atlet’s new Ergo Steering system.
This new range has been designed from the ground up to provide the high performance, reliability and productivity required to meet the demands of the highly-intensive, very often round-the-clock, order picking operations typically found in
today’s warehouses.
Atlet’s Friction Force suspension system, which ensures that the drive wheel maintains constant optimum pressure on the ground, provides maximum traction with smooth running. The truck is particularly compact, capable of negotiating tight picking aisles, and can handle loads up to 2500 kg.
The Tempo incorporates Atlet’s new advanced-ergonomics tiller arm, which was introduced with the P-Type chassis, featuring comfortable hand grips and easy-action fingertip controls, with proportional valves for snatch-free operation, which fall naturally to hand. Steering is progressive with a tiller arm angle of just 70o giving a 90o lock. These features are specifically designed to minimise arm movement when driving the truck, thus reducing the risk of strain to the operator’s arms and wrists, and to facilitate easy manoeuvring.
For the most extended and arduous work cycles, Atlet is offering its new Ergo Steering module as an optional extra on the Tempo PP series. This power-steering system, specifically developed for order picking, features an adjustable telescopic column with motor bike-style handlebars requiring minimal movement and with all the controls conveniently to hand. As with the standard tiller arm, the Ergo Steering enables the operator to drive the truck whilst walking alongside it. This greatly improves the speed of single-item picking in long aisles. On the rising platform variants, the height of the platform is infinitely adjustable to select the most comfortable working height, and on the high-lift fork models the forks can be adjusted to place the pallet at the most convenient height for loading.
The Tempo PP is equipped with Atlet’s truck computer – ATC – which has built-in diagnostic capabilities to enable rapid fault-finding, which in turn reduces servicing and maintenance downtime. The truck is also fitted with Atlet’s TRAC (Truck Remote Access) system whereby data can be downloaded to a remote Atlet service centre via an ordinary mobile phone for instant fault diagnosis. Automatic data download is available as an optional extra. The ATC also enables the Tempo’s driving characteristics such as speed, acceleration, braking effect, to be programmed to suit the preferences and skill levels of individual operators. The appropriate settings are automatically activated as the
relevant operator’s PIN is entered into the keypad.
The Tempo PP is a remarkably safe truck. The Friction Force system imparts excellent stability. Low ground clearance (55mm) minimises the risk of foot injury. On the rising-platform models robust guard rails protect the operator and an integral safety switch in the floor prevents the platform moving unless an operator is onboard. The regenerative effect of the AC motor provides efficient and smooth braking, complemented by a powerful emergency brake. PIN access prevents unauthorised use and the programmability of the truck’s performance parameters ensures that operators do not drive beyond their competence.
The Tempo PP is also available with Atlet’s patented S3 system as an optional extra. S3 – Stability Support System – automatically overrides hazardous manoeuvres. It reduces speed when the forks are raised or the truck is turning sharply, thus eliminating the risk of tipping and providing smoother, more energy-efficient operation.
A further recent launch in January came in the shape of Atlet’s new-generation pedestrian pallet transporter/stacker – the Alto PS. This is based on the all-new P-Type chassis, introduced last year, which also provides the platform for Atlet’s latest generation of pallet transporters and low level order pickers.
The truck is only 800 mm wide and 1898 mm long, enabling it to work in very confined spaces. Combined with a tight turning circle this is a major benefit on factory floors, where the truck is ideally suited to feeding workstations and assembly lines.
Safety is outstanding on this new truck. Four wheels give excellent all-round stability, again aided by Atlet’s Friction Force system. Drive speed is reduced at lift heights above 1.5 metres to give safe and accurate stacking, and the position of the tiller arm enables the truck to be operated whilst walking alongside it, with no danger of the operator trapping his feet. The low chassis and clear view mast ensures that the operator always has a good view of the whole truck, including the fork tips.
As with all Atlet trucks the Alto PS is designed for low cost operation – the price of a truck represents only ten per cent of the logistic cost (LCC) over a six-year period. The Alto is built in accordance with Atlet’s modular design concept whereby components are common to many different models, which reduces purchase price and the cost of servicing and maintenance. The truck is extremely rugged and all replacement parts are easily accessible.
In terms of sales, Atlet works either through its own companies or through distributors. The company sells to production and distribution companies, and to customers both with single shift working and with heavy multi-shift operations. As a result the organisation has an excellent analytical basis for product development and for sales and service.
In addition, much of the company’s sales are through rental contracts, which gives Atlet a unique opportunity to monitor running costs but at the same time makes heavy demands on its service organisation.
Atlet’s design philosophy is and has always been to build a complete truck programme for indoor handling and with as few chassis models as possible and common components. Consequently, just six chassis form the basis of hundreds of different trucks manufactured by Atlet. With common modules thousands of individually customised variations can be built to the same consistent quality and exceptional technical and ergonomic standards. This high degree of standardisation allows the organisation to achieve the best possible results in the three key areas of quality, flexibility and reliability.
“The way we build our trucks in a modular system, makes it easier for us to deliver custom designs. Since we sell with a solution oriented approach it is one of our strengths. Not being the largest with big volumes makes it impossible to sell on price if we want to deliver quality machines, so we have to be flexible and customer focused, something everyone claims of course but you have to deliver,” explains Lars.
This method of design and production also brings a number of other advantages. Where other truck manufacturers use tens of thousands of different components, Atlet’s entire product range is based on less than 3500. With standard components of this nature there is a guarantee that every part is exhaustively tried, tested and totally reliable.
In addition to this flexible method of manufacture, Atlet has a number of other key strengths that allow it to stay one step ahead of the competition. Lars highlights the organisation’s employees for special praise: “The workforce is the company. It represents the total competence and know-how in all the different areas. So of course it is vital. Our HR department. constantly runs different programmes for different employees, salesmen and service engineers to ensure they are kept up-to-date.”
Looking to the future, he adds: “Plans are to constantly improve and develop products and services, expand with profit and stay a family company. There is no one secret to our success: hard work, motivation and a firm belief that our customers benefit from choosing Atlet for long term relationships.”
Almost half a century since the business was first created by Knut Jacobsson’s the Atlet business philosophy remains the same: “Atlet improves the profitability of the customer’s internal materials handling by offering user-friendly and ergonomic products including after sales support and associated services.”
VTR
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