Aprolis Equipment Distribution Secures Order for Carer A180X Electric Forklift Truck
Aprolis Equipment Distribution, one of the UK’s official authorised distributors for Carer electric forklifts, has secured an order for the latest high-capacity Carer truck.
The bespoke Carer A180X has been specifically engineered to transport large cable drums and reels weighing up to 16.68 tonnes, with a 3.2-metre diameter, 1760mm width and 880mm load centre, supporting the continued expansion of offshore wind power generation on the east coast of Scotland, near the Port of Nigg.
The vehicle will primarily be transporting empty reels into the manufacturing facility before moving fully loaded cable drums through the production process and into position throughout the site.
Designed for demanding industrial and outdoor applications, the Carer A180X delivers strong performance, reliability and operator comfort in heavy-duty environments. Its dual AC drive motors provide efficient power, speed and torque, while the high-capacity battery ensures long operating autonomy.
Built also with practicality in mind, the truck offers excellent ground clearance and pneumatic tyres for improved stability on uneven surfaces, alongside a lateral battery extraction system enabling swift battery changes for easier handling and maintenance, or in peak operational periods.
Safety and usability are supported through features such as a rear-view camera, automatic parking brake and speed reduction when cornering, helping to ensure controlled and efficient operation throughout the working day.
Aprolis Equipment Distribution worked closely alongside its regional support partner to deliver a complete turnkey solution tailored to the customer’s exact operational requirements.
From the outset, the team carried out detailed site surveys and a full application assessment to fully understand how the truck would integrate into the customer’s manufacturing process and the specific challenges associated with handling large undersea cable drums.
Following a detailed assessment of the customer’s operational requirements, Aprolis Equipment Distribution introduced several bespoke adaptations to the truck to ensure that it operated seamlessly in line with the customer’s cable handling process and the specific dimensions of the cable drums.
This included precision modifications to the forks, with a 45-degree section removed from each fork tip to allow safe and efficient handling of the reels, alongside additional reinforcements to support the unique load profile to ensure that it could transport and position the cable drums throughout the production process without compromising stability.
As part of the overall package, the company is also delivering operator familiarisation and driver training to help maximise both safety and operational efficiency from day one.
Unlike many manufacturers in the marketplace which have transitioned their materials handling range to electric through converting diesel chassis to electric drivetrains, Carer has exclusively designed and manufactured electric heavy forklifts since the company’s inception in 1976.
Harnessing a range of all-electric forklift trucks that are each expertly designed to deliver high performance while helping operators reduce emissions, noise and overall environmental impact compared to traditional internal combustion alternatives, their experience in electric material handling played an important role in the truck being selected for the project, particularly given the customer’s requirement for a fully electric solution.
“From the outset, this project was all about collaboration,” commented Andy Armitage Sales Manager at Aprolis Equipment Distribution. “Working closely with our local support partner and the customer, we carried out detailed site visits and assessed the exact specification of the cable reels and operational requirements to ensure we supplied the right solution for the application.
“The requirement for a fully electric, cost effective truck from day one made Carer the ideal fit. Their experience in designing purpose-built heavy electric forklifts really stood out and ultimately enabled us to deliver a bespoke solution that met the customer’s operational and sustainability goals.”