Yale Lift Truck Technologies, a Cleveland-based concern, recently announced expanding the availability of its Reliant system, an advanced operator assist solution program, on 13 additional Yale lift truck models.

First launched in 2021 as a first-of-its-kind solution, capturing a “product of the year” acknowledgment for its utility, Reliant is now available in the company's electric counterbalanced trucks with 3,000 to 12,000-pound capacity ranges; its very narrow aisle [VNA] turret truck and enclosed end rider also has the operating system.

The company describes that the Reliant system uses multiple detection technologies to monitor the surrounding environment and the status of the lift truck and load; Yale Reliant automatically adjusts lift truck performance so that operators are alerted by feeling the vehicle respond, helping reinforce best practices to support truck stability.

The system monitors truck and load status to prioritize stability by implementing hydraulic and traction controls. In practice, Yale says its Reliant system provides warnings and assists with operator awareness by reducing truck speed if it detects something in the monitored area, such as obstacles, other trucks or pedestrians.

“[W]arehouses are constantly looking for tools that can help support safety efforts for all types of lift truck equipment, from order pickers and reach trucks to end riders and counterbalanced trucks,” explained Nic Temple, director of Technology Solutions at Yale. “[W]e're already breaking new ground with expanded availability on a broader range of lift truck types; operator assist systems are still a relatively new entry to the market.”

The statement describes how Yale’s detection technology helps operators detect obstacles and implements performance triggers to slow down the truck, providing operators additional time to brake or steer away. The advanced truck stability system also implements hydraulic and traction controls to help maintain stability based on continuous truck and load status monitoring.

“We have over 2,500 units commercially deployed with this technology,” Temple added. “Our detection and automated performance control capabilities prove themselves every day in real-world warehouse environments.”

The technology is a finalist for the 2023 Edison Awards. Previously, Yale Reliant was voted a 2021 product of the year by Material Handling Product News readers and MaterialHandling247.com.

For more information, visit yale.com.