Electric tugs for dairy & food
Move roll cages and food trolleys with one person.
From nested roll cages in the dispatch hall to ingredient trolleys and mixing bowls on the production floor, Tractive Power electric tugs take the push out of food and dairy logistics. Battery powered, quiet indoors, and built in the UK.
1,000–8,000 kg
Wheeled loads on castors, from a single roll cage to a train of nested cages.
TT50 to TP500
1 person
The operator walks behind and steers. The tug does the pushing.
Regardless of load
6th
Tractive Power tug in Arla Foods' network, at its Bellshill depot.
Arla Foods case study
Every roll cage pushed by hand is a manual handling risk.
Dairy and food sites move everything on wheels: roll cages to dispatch, ingredient trolleys to the line, racks and bowls between processes.
Starting, steering and stopping loaded cages all shift adds up to strain on staff and a risk the Manual Handling Operations Regulations require you to reduce. Forklifts don't belong in busy chilled areas or on the production floor.
Why traditional handling doesn’t fit
Pushing by hand depends on whoever is on shift, with no control over force or speed on slopes and ramps. Sending two people to move a heavy train of cages doubles the labour without removing the risk.
Forklifts and ride-on tractors are too big for production floors and chilled corridors, and they bring fumes or extra risk around people on foot.
Where Tractive Power fits
A pedestrian electric tug puts one operator in full control: they walk behind and steer, and the tug supplies the force. At Arla Foods’ Bellshill depot, a TP500 Dairy Cage Pusher moves nested roll cages as one load.
Battery power means no fumes and quiet running indoors, and every tug is fitted with the coupling that suits your cages and trolleys.
Where our machines work in dairy & food
From the production floor to dispatch.
Nested roll cages
Trains of nested roll cages moved to dispatch as one load.
Ingredient trolleys
Ingredient trolleys and racks moved to the line.
Mixing vessels
Stainless mixing vessels moved between processes on castors.
Tipping bins
Stainless tipping bins and heavy process trolleys moved between rooms.
Recommended for dairy & food
Four tugs for food and dairy loads.
Not sure which machine you need? Start from your load.
Dairy & food couplings
The right connection for your cages and trolleys.
Food sites run a mix of roll cages, trolleys and process equipment. Every tug is fitted with the coupling that suits yours, and if none of the standard options fit, we design one around your load.
Adjustable pushpad
Railed trolleys and production lines
Roll cage coupling
Nested roll cages pushed as one load (TP250 and TP500).
5th wheel channel
For wheeled loads, stillages and process trolleys.
Quick latch
One connection point across all your trolleys.
Paper roll
Drums, reels and paper rolls
None of these fit? We design the coupling around your load. Designed in-house around your load, to your drawing.
Built for dairy & food handling
Clean, quiet, single-operator handling.
Quiet, zero-emission running
Battery powered, so there are no fumes in production, chilled or dispatch areas.
Single-operator control
One person walks behind and steers at walking pace. The tug supplies the force, so nobody has to push.
Backed by a UK service team
Built in the UK, with a 2-year warranty and a UK service team for servicing and repairs.
Dairy & food handling FAQs
The questions food and dairy teams ask us.
Can an electric tug push nested roll cages?
Yes. With the roll cage coupling, the TP250 and TP500 push a train of nested roll cages as one load. Arla Foods runs a TP500 Dairy Cage Pusher at its Bellshill depot.
Which tug do I need?
It depends on the heaviest load. The TT50 moves up to 1,000 kg on castors, the TT100 2,000 kg, the TP250 4,000 kg and the TP500 8,000 kg. Tell us the load and we will recommend the right one.
Can it be used in production and chilled areas?
Yes. The tugs are battery powered, so there are no fumes, and the operator stays in control at walking pace around people on foot.
Does pushing a heavy load by hand count as manual handling?
Yes. Pushing and pulling count as manual handling under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, so the risk has to be assessed and reduced as far as reasonably practicable. A tug takes most of the push force out of the job.
How long does charging take?
A full recharge takes 8 hours, so a tug can charge overnight and be ready for the next shift.
Can you look at our site first?
Yes. We visit, walk the routes and look at your loads before recommending a machine and coupling.
Will a Tractive Power tug move your load?
Tell us what you’re moving, how heavy it gets and what it runs on. We’ll tell you which tug and coupling will do the job.
Rather talk it through? Call 01538 360372.
