Application · Retail

Replacing forklifts for wheeled loads in warehouses

If the load is already on wheels, a pedestrian electric tug can take over the job the forklift has been doing.

At a glance

Result
No lift-truck licence needed
Industry
Retail
Machine
TP250 Tractive Pusher, TP500 Tractive Pusher

The challenge

Forklifts doing jobs that don't need lifting

In many warehouses the forklift is used to shuttle stillages, trolleys and carts that are already on castors. That ties up a trained driver and the truck, needs wide aisles and turning space, and puts a heavy vehicle among people on foot.

The solution

Move it on its own wheels

A TP250 moves wheeled loads up to 4,000 kg on castors, and a TP500 up to 12,000 kg. One pedestrian operator couples up and walks the load to where it needs to go. The forklift is left free for loading and racking.

Read our guide: electric tug vs forklift.

The result

What changes

  • Stillages, roll cages, trolleys and carts moved by one person
  • Narrower routes: no forklift turning space needed
  • Fewer heavy vehicles mixing with pedestrians
  • Operator training on the machine instead of lift-truck training

The machine on this job

  • TP250 electric tug with orange body, black tiller and quick latch coupling
    Tractive Units

    TP250 Tractive Pusher

    For cars and vans, die trolleys and production trolleys. Comes in standard and compact versions for tight cells.

    On castors
    4,000 kg
    On rails
    20,000 kg
  • TP500 electric tug with orange body, black tiller and quick latch coupling
    Tractive Units

    TP500 Tractive Pusher

    For heavy trolleys, kiln cars, reels and jigs. In standard and compact versions, with remote control as an option.

    On castors
    8,000 kg
    On rails
    40,000 kg

More case studies

More jobs our tugs are doing

  • Operator in food-safe whites using a TP500 electric tug to push a line of loaded dairy roll cages through a chilled production area
    Dairy & food

    Arla Foods: remote-controlled dairy cage pushers

    Arla's new Bellshill depot runs a remote-controlled TP500 Dairy Cage Pusher. It's the sixth Tractive Power tug in Arla's network.

  • A row of yellow TP250 Compact electric tugs parked along a walkway beside a car assembly line
    Automotive

    Nine TP250 Compacts moving cars along a prestige assembly line

    We designed the TP250 Compact for a prestige car maker's tight final-build area. Nine units now move cars between stations, each with one operator.

  • TP500 electric tug coupled to a large yellow press die trolley outside a factory
    Automotive

    Cutting a mould changeover from two hours to 15 minutes

    A global car maker put its moulding dies on trolleys and a TP250 Compact. A changeover that took more than two hours now takes 15 minutes, with one operator.

Load Check

Moving something similar?

Tell us what you’re moving and how it runs, and we’ll tell you which tug and coupling will do the job.

Rather talk it through? Call 01538 360372.

What does it run on? *
What's the floor like?

One of our engineers will look at your load and call you back to talk it through. We'll only use your details for that.