Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Top 5 Goals an SCMH Lift Truck Tech Sets for Your Company

1. I want to maintain your lift truck.
You may not have a problem with the truck right now. And I am sure you need to use it. But spare us the few moments to regularly perform service so that you can keep moving things around more smoothly.

2. I will not overlook the smallest problem—EVEN YOUR spark plug.
I will change your spark plug now if I have to so you will have fuel economy, optimal combustion, and fewer emissions.

3. I need to care for your filter system, each and every time.
It’s one component, but your filter system is vital. If it is not maintained properly, chances are, there’s going to be a domino effect that will create bigger problems.

4. I need to make you understand why you must follow your tech’s recommendations.
I will not just service your truck. I will make you understand what I am going to do and what my recommendations are. I will thoroughly explain why you need to comply with proper operating procedures.

5. I want to save you money

Believe it or not, I am not here to create expenses. I am here to ensure that unforeseen repairs don’t impact your bottom line negatively. You’ve budgeted for maintenance, let’s keep it within that by allowing me to catch foreseen problems that may lead to expensive repairs.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Kalmar DCF50–90

Not just another forklift truck

A Kalmar DCF50–90 is a vital, integral part of your production process that can boost your productivity – just like an industrial robot or automation system. You can depend on its uncompromising quality to ensure reliable operation year after year. http://www.scmh.com/shop/new/kalmar-dcf50-90-5/

Friday, September 23, 2016

The SCMH Sales Team

Capping the week with a pumped up team of material handling experts ready to bring you solutions on Monday! Happy weekend everyone!
http://www.scmh.com/scmh-sales-team/




Wednesday, September 21, 2016

ECE 227/236 XL Center Control Riders from Jungheinrich Launched in North America

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) announced today the addition of an electric rider pallet truck to the line of Jungheinrich products. The ECE 227/236 XL Center-Control Riders are designed with intuitive controls to optimize the cost, speed and overall efficiencies for order picking in a variety of applications. The 3-phase AC drive motor ensures maximum performance with high acceleration and travel speed with low energy consumption.


Friday, September 16, 2016

SCMH Equipment Spotlight is on: The Jungheinrich EKX 514/516k/516 Turret Truck Series

Check out an animation video showcasing the most advanced features of Jungheinrich’s EKX series. http://www.scmh.com/shop/new/jungheinrich-ekx-514-516k-516-5/
The advanced turret trucks sets new standards for flexibility, low cost of operation and ergonomics, while reaching lift heights up to 689 inches. The EKX can efficiently run up to two shifts on a single battery charge, eliminating the need for extra batteries and manpower requirements and saving both time and money.


Available in SoCal at Southern California Material Handling 1-866-SCMH-CAT www.scmh.com

Monday, September 12, 2016

CAT Lift Truck DP100N-DP160N IC /

CAT Lift Truck DP100N-DP160N IC Pneumatic Tire

CAPACITY 22000 LBS-36000 LBS
POWER DIESEL
TIRE PNEUMATIC
MAX FORK HEIGHT 121 IN-121.5 IN
MAX TRAVEL SPEED LOADED 15.2 MPH-16..5 MPH
MAX LIFT SPEED LOADED 63 FT/MIN-80.7 FT/MIN
MAX GRADEABILITY LOADED 33.4%-42.2%

The Cat® DP100N-DP160N pneumatic tire lift truck series provides optimum power and reliability to tackle the toughest material handling applications. Equipped with a high-performance Perkins™ 1204E 4.4L engine, this series offers increased fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and a lower overall operating cost. The DP100N-DP160N series is equipped with essential features for optimum operator comfort and control. Premium ergonomics and a smooth, controlled ride come together to help your operators achieve maximum productivity – shift after shift.

http://www.scmh.com/shop/new/cat-lift-truck-dp100n-dp160n-4/

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

10 Tips to Consider Signing Up for PM Service

From Ben, SCMH Expert Tech and Experienced Parts & Service Rep

Like an annual trip to your local physician for a check-up, a well thought-out planned maintenance (PM) agreement with a qualified and reputable service company can dramatically increase the longevity of your equipment as well as significantly reduce your operating costs.
Conversely, operating forklift equipment without planned maintenance or allowing an inexperienced company manage your program, can result in increased operating costs, downtime and reduced useful life of your forklifts.
Through years of performing planned maintenance for hundreds of companies on thousands of forklifts there are a few basic things we have felt all our customers needed to know about planned maintenance and we want to share those topics with you to help you understand planned maintenance more thoroughly, or simply reaffirm the plan you already have in place.
1.     BEWARE OF THE “TEASER” PRICE
Particularly during times when budgets are strained, it is easy to “take the bait” on low-priced introductory PM rates. Statistics show that it takes a minimum of one hour to perform a proper PM on an IC or electric rider unit and 30 minutes on a walkie. Ask for the stated hourly labor rate or your prospective provider. If the math doesn’t pan out, something is going to suffer and it’s usually the amount of care paid to your forklifts.
2.     ASK TO SEE A PM INSPECTION FORM
Ask to see a PM inspection form of the company you are using. If one does not exist then it is likely that your forklifts are not being inspected and maintained properly. Have someone do an occasional random inspection to be sure grease is getting where it’s supposed to, and inspections are being done properly. Remember, you spent tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars on these assets and you not only want to get the most out of them in terms of useful life, but your goal is to minimize maintenance costs. The only way to ensure this is to have competent and thorough service technicians service your forklift equipment. Anything less is most likely going to cost you far more in the long-run. See what a PM inspection form looks like here:http://www.scmh.com/parts-services-services/

3.     WHAT ARE COMPLETION RATES?
Do you know how many of your forklifts are being serviced according to the schedule laid out in the agreement? If you are entertaining a new service provider asking for their completion rates is not only appropriate, it’s essential. And if your prospective provider does not know their completion rates, they are not keeping tabs on them, which likely means your forklifts are not going to be serviced on time.

4.     ASK FOR REFERRALS.
You have a lot riding on your forklift fleet every day. Productivity and employee safety are right at the top of the list. There’s no better way to find out what kind of service to expect from your prospective service provider than to ask their current customers. Get a short list of three to four companies and give them a call.
5.     HOW PLANNED MAINTENANCE REDUCES COSTS
Like the old Fram Oil Filter commercial (watch the TV ad here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij1yDpfZI8Q) whose moniker was “you can pay me now, or you can pay me later”, ignoring small costs now leads to bigger costs down the road. But what does that mean and what causes this?
·        Keeping lines clean—Let’s face it, our forklifts operate in less-than-optimal atmospheric conditions. This leads to build-up in the filters that keep the air, oil and hydraulic fluid clean. Sediments can wreak havoc on the internal working parts and result in premature failure, thus increasing your costs over the life of your equipment.
·        Tires—Tires that are worn or damaged increase the resistance of that tire and leads to increased fuel costs.
·        The squeaky wheel needs the grease—When a part breaks, a forklift is out of service and typically results in more down time and decreased productivity. Keeping key points properly lubricated reduces friction which reduces wear. This results in smoother operation, improved performance and elongated part life. Combining all these reduces your operating costs.
·        Worn parts—Replacing worn parts before they fail saves in several ways. When parts fail it can often lead to damage of or failure of other parts. Replacing what’s worn now improves up-time and reduces the likelihood of the forklift needing to be taken to the shop for more extensive repairs.

6.     OSHA RECOMMENDS IT—From a safety standpoint, making sure that your forklifts are operating safely is important. As part of OSHA’s regulation of forklifts 29CFR 1910 (read regulation here:https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9828) preventive or planned maintenance is recommended. Ignoring this recommendation can be costly in an event of a workplace accident due to parts that give way, or an operator that slips on or around the equipment due to lack of maintenance. It’s not only the fines that can result, but the legal costs that undoubtedly will be incurred if a company has not followed the recommendations of OSHA.

7.     ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL—Working with a company that asks questions can optimize and reduce the cost of, your planned maintenance program. If your forklifts operate under extreme conditions (lifting heavy loads, in the heat, bad weather, cold storage, multi-shift etc.) they will need increased attention. However if your forklifts are lighter duty and are used less than a full shift, they will not need as frequent visits by your service tech. Knowing how often your forklifts need to be serviced is a product of experience. Be sure your service provider asks questions and listens.

8.     YOUR OPERATOR’S RESPONSIBILITY—As required by OSHA, a daily inspection is required of each and every forklift you operate. Click here to download your copy courtesy of SCMH Rental Solutions: http://www.scmh.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Operator-Checklist.pdf. This daily inspection extends beyond the typical lights, alarms, seat-belt, brakes and accelerator that we frequently see. The required inspection elements include belts and hoses, engine oil level, engine coolant, air filter and brake reservoir to name a few.

9.     VISIT YOUR PROSPECTIVE SERVICE PROVIDER—You can learn a lot by visiting your prospective service provider. How orderly is the parts department? Ask about their processes. Ask to see how they track planned maintenance and meet the people that will be responsible for managing your fleet’s planned maintenance program. Is the facility clean? Are the grounds well kept? A sloppy and disorderly facility usually means you can expect the same for your planned maintenance program.

10.  WORKING WITH A QUALIFIED SOURCE—Our experience is that there are a few qualified resources in any given city that can execute a proper planned maintenance program. You spend tens, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to acquire these equipment, why not put it in the hands of a company that understands them and has extensive experience with them. You want someone that you know will be here for the long-haul, and can stand behind the work that they perform. OSHA only requires that a forklift be service by “authorized” personnel. We feel however that while “authorized” is not defined, you certainly want to be sure that your service company is sufficient to stand the litmus test of having extensive experience to understand the complete spectrum of forklift maintenance.
SCMH performs thousands of forklift PM’s every year and we know what it takes to optimize your planned maintenance program and would appreciate the opportunity to speak to you about your current program, or help you establish a customized planned maintenance program for your forklift fleet.
Ben is an experienced technician of 22 years and has managed 1,000 parts and service accounts in North Orange County together with Sam Apodaca who manages over 1,000 accounts in South and Central Orange County. To learn more about SCMH’s planned maintenance, visit http://www.scmh.com/parts-services-services/ or call 1-866-SCMH-CAT to speak with the account manager in your territory. SCMH services are available across Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Fernando Valley.


Thursday, September 1, 2016

SCMH Labor Day 2016 Hours of Operation


In observance of Labor Day, SCMH will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2016 and will resume regular operations from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM the following day, Tuesday, September 6.