SPED

Special Products Engineering Department (SPED)

Every Big Truck application is different, and despite a wide selection of standard Hyster products, a high proportion of all Big Truck orders have a tailor made element to them.

In support, Hyster has a large dedicated SPED team focused on working with the customer from detailed specification and followed through to delivery of custom material handling solutions.

Right first time

The most important part of any Big Truck order is at the very beginning in the specification process, and our local teams across the world work with all types of businesses to get this right first time. Experience is an essential factor at this stage and if there is a customer material handling solution requirement to the project we always advise linking our SPED team in Nijmegen with the user from the start.

Don't forget, the truck is built to order, so work with Hyster to get it right for now and for the future life of the truck and its intended role.

What's possible?

SPED projects can be small, such as a simple paint job in specific colours, through to big developments requiring longer frames, a wider chassis or even higher capacity. The majority of SPED projects are directly related to customer specific applications and the front-end handling requirements.

We almost always find a solution to a particular handling problem and encourage customers to talk to us with new and interesting handling problems. Here are just some of the most popular requirements for custom material handling solutions:

• With the growth in wind energy, we are seeing more regular requirements for adapted Hyster ReachStackers to handle blades, the hubs or tower sections.
• Barge handling has also been a very interesting development as containers are lifted from below the level of a quayside requiring negative lift from a Hyster ReachStacker in the third row.
• Tyre handling seems to be growing in the mining industries as we have a neat solution for this
• Businesses seem to be stacking containers higher, leading to the development of a six-high Hyster ReachStacker.
• We are also often going to 52, 54 and 56 tonnes with heavy duty forklift trucks which, not only means a bigger counterweight, but also a longer wheelbase and re-enforced mast.
• Boat handling has also been another growth area for SPED as more marinas see the opportunity of stacking boats in racking and lifting them into the water with a negative lift high capacity forklift truck.
• Rotating seats in a Vista Cab.
• Modifications of Big Trucks for operation in extreme cold such as in Alaska
• Modifications of Big Trucks for operation in extreme heat, for example where hot metal is handled and we have to protect the hydraulics and other components.

Read our SPED Manager's Blog about his role and his most interesting challenges in custom material handling.