Download Paper Industry Brochure
What can Cat® forklifts do for you?
The dependability, efficiency and productivity of our forklift trucks have been well proven over many years in the paper industry. Businesses have also benefited from the deep understanding and support of our dealers.
Often referred to as the paper and pulp industry, this sector overlaps with others in which we have strong experience. In particular, there are crossovers with the wood industry and recycling industry. The pulp from which paper is manufactured can be processed from wood, supplied as logs or chippings. Alternatively, the raw material source for the pulp may be scrap paper and cardboard, collected for recycling.
Along with these raw and intermediate materials, pulp and paper businesses handle the resulting refined products. They include paper, paperboard and corrugated cardboard, in a wide variety of types and grades. Other key players in the paper supply chain include printing companies and converters. The converting sector processes bulk rolls of paper-based material into smaller rolls, sheets, boxes and other finished products.
Our lift trucks have important roles in all these businesses.
Their duties include:
- Loading and unloading of materials for transport to and from paper and pulp mills, paper recycling plants and other facilities
- Transporting materials and products between different processes within a plant
- Stacking and retrieval of products in storage areas and warehouses
Meeting your challenges
Large and heavy loads
Bulk paper products are produced in large rolls, often several metres high. Even after conversion into smaller rolls, they are still heavy and bulky to carry. The industry trend is toward larger manufacturing machines and larger rolls. Lift trucks for such applications need to be high in strength and stability.
Tight spaces
Pulp and paper facilities often squeeze a mixture of production lines, processes and storage areas into their available floor space. This can create a complex layout with narrow passages and restricted room for movement. In these situations, forklifts need to be compact and highly manoeuvrable.
Variety and value of materials
The nature of the materials handled can be very variable, requiring different forklift specifications and attachments. For example, the type of wood and the quality of recyclable paper used to produce pulp will vary. Paper rolls come in different sizes, and the paper materials vary in their value and their vulnerability. Sensitive and controlled handling is needed to avoid damage.
Difficult environments
Paper and pulp raw materials generate large amounts of fibrous dust, dirt and debris. These can be damaging to forklift engines and to insufficiently protected lift truck electrical systems. The atmosphere inside pulp mills may also be moist, which can also be a problem for lift trucks. Those operating outdoors, in storage yards for instance, may be subject to rain, mud and extremes of heat and cold. Whatever the conditions, reliability is essential. Operations are intensive, often 24/7, and forklift failure can halt a plant’s production.
Drivers’ welfare
To keep drivers working productively in such demanding operations, forklift ergonomics and comfort should be prioritised. Poor working conditions can lead to low morale, sickness and absences. Safety is another important consideration, with special attention to minimising collision risks in a complex, space-restricted, busy workplace.
Sustainability
The paper industry draws much attention from customers who prioritise sustainability goals. Recycling and sustainable wood supply are prominent issues. To maintain their reputation for environmental responsibility, businesses must also minimise carbon emissions related to materials handling.
Competitive pressures
Companies in the paper industry must work hard to remain competitive on price and achieve profits. This requires high productivity and careful consideration of costs. Materials need to be moved and handled quickly and efficiently. Forklifts should be selected for durability and easy maintenance, to minimise downtime, repair bills and truck replacement costs. The trucks’ fuel or energy consumption is another critical expense. Their ability to handle paper without causing damage and product wastage is also important.
Materials handling solutions from Cat® Lift Trucks
Strength and stability
Like many industries, paper and pulp has traditionally relied on the power and ruggedness of diesel counterbalance forklift trucks. Today’s Cat® electric counterbalance forklifts can perform as well or better than IC engine trucks in every paper-related application. That includes both indoor and outdoor duties. What’s more, they bring many electric advantages.
Those include:
- Zero emissions
- High energy efficiency
- Easier and more economical maintenance
- Long life and lasting value
- Powerful performance
- Intelligent drive and hydraulic control
- Programmability
- Safety
- Agility
- Supreme ergonomics and comfort
- Lower TCO (total cost of operation)
If you still prefer IC engine power, we have excellent diesel forklifts and LPG forklifts in capacities from 1.5 to 5.5 tonnes. Our advanced electric counterbalance range extends from 1.4 to12.0 tonnes.
Manoeuvrability
Clear all-round vision is a fundamental design aim in all our trucks. Together with compact overall designs and precise, low-effort steering, it allows easy, confident and safe manoeuvring even in tight spaces.
For the ultimate in agile manoeuvrability, we use a +100⁰ rear steering axle on most of our electric counterbalance models. Meanwhile, our advanced electronic control systems maximise the precision of all movements in our electric counterbalance and warehouse equipment ranges.
Handling with care
Specialised suppliers can fit a wide variety of attachments to our forklifts to suit different loads and applications. For instance, rotators may be used to pour wood chips from containers for pulping.
Bale clamps can be specified to handling recycling bales and pulp bales of different sizes. Paper roll clamps also vary in size and specialism for different paper product types and grades. They incorporate pads and pressure control features to enable a firm grip without causing damage. Alternative attachments include rams or poles, for situations where rolls are stored and transported horizontally rather than vertically.
More traditional forks also have many uses in the paper industry. They’re available in various lengths and shapes, including V-shaped versions for transport of paper rolls by power pallet trucks. Fork positioners and side shifters are amongst the most common fork-related choices. Aside from the rolls and bales, there are goods such as packages of paper sheets which are handled on pallets.
Whatever your storage systems, and whatever the nature of your products, you will find solutions within our warehouse truck ranges:
- Power pallet trucks
- Stackers
- Reach trucks
- Order pickers – low-level/2nd-level and medium/high-level
- Very narrow aisle (VNA) equipment such as man-up turret trucks or man-down VNA trucks
Resistance and durability
Cat® Lift Trucks products are, of course, famously durable and resistant to tough conditions. Our IC engines can be optionally fitted with further protective features like double air filters to keep out dirt and dust. On our electric trucks, key components like electronic controllers and brakes are sealed against water, dust and dirt.
Optimised driver performance
We always design our trucks with the driver’s needs in mind. For instance, they all offer comfortable, spacious operating compartments, ergonomic controls and easy entry and exit. You can be sure of a smooth ride with low noise and vibration, especially in our electric models. We also have weatherproof cabin options, with heating and/or air conditioning, if you need them.
To keep drivers and other workers safe, we design and engineer our trucks to reduce the chances of collision. Fundamentally, that means maximising the driver’s vision and the truck’s manoeuvrability, precision and control. Our braking technologies are effective, and we add automated safety aids for extra certainty. They include intelligent curve control, presence-detecting seat switches and automatic parking brakes. Comprehensive lighting options ensure the driver can see and the truck can be seen.
Reduced carbon footprint
Our advanced technologies have reduced fuel consumption in our LPG and diesel forklifts. Meanwhile, advances in our electric forklift ranges have created the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions of all. For maximum efficiency, you can choose the Li-ion battery versions.
We contribute further to sustainability through the durability of our lift trucks and their components. It means less frequent replacement of trucks and worn parts, and therefore less energy and material consumption in manufacture.
Lower costs
The energy efficiency of our forklifts will continue to save you money over a long product lifetime. Their durability, low maintenance requirements and easy service access will further reduce ongoing costs and downtime. The durable quality and inbuilt protection of Cat lift trucks will also help maintain a high resale value.
Non-stop productivity
Wherever you are, our Cat lift truck dealers are ready and equipped to support you. Their deep understanding will ensure the perfect choice and combination of lift trucks for your application. Then their mobile engineers will keep them working at peak performance through expert routine maintenance and rapid response to any emergency. They have access to the fastest parts supply operation in the business.
An important advantage of Cat solutions in this respect is our common component strategy. High levels of component sharing between ranges maximise parts availability. This means higher first-time fix rates, less downtime and lower related costs. By cutting the number of service-related journeys, it also shrinks your carbon footprint. That’s another green choice.
Together, we and our dealers will ensure you have everything you need. Choose Cat forklifts and services for productive, efficient and cost-effective materials handling in the paper industry.
Find Your Local Dealer
Your nearest Cat lift trucks dealer is equipped to provide maintenance services and help locate and supply the genuine parts you need.
Get started by selecting your region: