SMITH Power Equipment, a South African importation and distribution company representing leading global equipment brands, has expanded its offering with the addition of the Baoli range of materials handling equipment to its distribution stable.
As part of its one-stop shop approach, Smith Power Equipment has signed a distributorship agreement with Baoli, a leading global manufacturer of materials handling equipment.
Through the agreement, Smith Power will add Baoli’s range of diesel, electric and LPG forklifts, as well as stackers and pallet trucks to its stable. KION Baoli is a brand of forklift trucks that was founded in China in 2003 and acquired in 2009 by the KION Group, the European market leader and the world’s second largest manufacturer of warehouse technology.
In 2017, the KION Group went on to establish Baoli EMEA, a new organisation which replaced and expanded the previous Baoli structure in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, currently covering 26 countries, but with the ambitious aim of covering 86 markets in the region in just a few years. In South Africa, the brand is set to benefit from Smith Power’s knowledge of the market, as well as the extended branch and dealer network.
To cater for a wide range of warehousing customer needs, Smith Power offers Baoli’s full range of diesel, electric and LPG forklifts. The diesel range comprises the KBD25 2.5T, KBD25+ 2.5T and the KBD35+ 3.5T.
“The KBD+ series lift trucks are designed to provide high productivity and excellent performance. They are available in the diesel versions with 2 500 -3 500 kg load capacities and a powerful Xinchang engine,” said Tom Bloom, GM for Construction Equipment at Smith Power Equipment.
He described the KBD+ as an extremely versatile product that lends itself to multiple uses. “Great attention has been paid to lift truck maneuverability, in the first place guaranteed by the special reduced diameter steering wheel.” Other important driving aids are the pedal parking brake, the electronic driving direction selector, the easily accessible hydraulic levers and the dashboard with multi-function display.
“All the KBD+ series lift trucks are equipped with hydrodynamic transmission supplied directly by the KION Group,” said Bloom.
In the electric range is the KBE25 2.5T, a four-wheel electric lift trucks with 48 V power supply and available with load capacities of 2 500 kg.
All the KBE lift trucks are equipped standard with a curve speed reduction system and the main driving functions can be parameterised. The driver can directly choose between the various performance levels via the display, for example, selecting a reduced performance profile for more delicate handling and a more aggressive profile for yard handling.
Meanwhile, the LPG range comprises the KBG25+ 2.5T and the KBG35+ 3.5T, with load capacities of 2 500 kg and 3 500 kg, respectively. The KBG25+ has a turning radius of 2 170 mm, while the larger KBG35+ offers a turning radius of 2 540 mm, allowing the machines to work well in space constrained jobsites.
The pallet truck range comprises the EP12WS 1.2 T lithium-ion power pallet, the EP15-N01 1.5T electric basic power pallet, and the EP16-N01 1.6T electric standard power pallet. The EP12 is the entry model for the electric pallet trucks designed from the ground up to provide industry-leading tight turning radius for faster, easier pin wheeling, more work cycles and better bottom-line productivity.
However, the major talking point is its 24V (20/26 Ah) lithium-ion battery offering high efficiency and life time duration. It offers three hours of continuous working with only one charge. With uptime in mind, it has a low charging time without memory effect – only 2,5 hours for a complete charge. A smart design allows easy removal of the maintenance-free battery pack for recharge. An optional 3,7 kg standby battery is available for extended run time.
The stacker range comprises the ES10-N01 1T and the ES16-N02 1.6T. The Baoli ES10-N01 is a compact electric stacker powered by 2 x 12V 85Ah batteries. It can be used in a large variety of undemanding situations inside warehouses. It has a load capacity of 1 000 kg and is available with lifting heights from 1 600 mm to 3 500 mm.