Farm Machinery, Forklifts

Product focus: Toyota 8FD25 forklifts

North West Ginning has added two new ‘cotton-spec’ Toyota 8FD25 forklifts to its fleet in order to meet harvest requirements.

Wayne Clissold and mechanic Richard Skelton with new Toyota 8FD25 forklift.
North West Ginning manager Wayne Clissold (left) and mechanic Richard Skelton with a new Toyota 8FD25 forklift

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The New South Wales company has been using Toyota forklifts for close to a decade and recently decided to upgrade to the new 8FD25 engine-powered counterbalance forklifts with ‘cotton spec’ accessories for use at its ginning plant near Moree.

North West Ginning manager Wayne Clissold says the reliability and durability of his Toyota forklifts are critical for the company’s success.

“After the cotton is harvested the ginning process removes the dirt and debris and separates the cotton seeds and lint, with the latter packed into large cotton bales that we stack and later load onto trucks,” Clissold says.

“Our Toyota forklifts can be in service almost around the clock during the harvest season, which can cover between three and six months of the year.”

North West’s new 8FD25 forklifts are fitted with cotton-operation specific accessories for efficiency and safety. The 8FD25s have also been fitted out with operator side-protection gates, cotton bale clamps and cotton-industry spec radiator screen and joystick controls.

“The forklifts often carry four large cotton bales at a time, so dual-drive wheels are fitted which is a great feature for us as the wider footprint offers better stability and balance, especially when carrying multiple cotton bales, and better traction on the asphalt,” North West Ginning mechanic Richard Shelton says.

“These units were supplied with a Cascade quick-release side shift, so they can quickly and easily be converted back to a conventional forklift set up to handle pallets when required,” Shelton adds.

“The joystick control is another good feature as it provides better ergonomics and ease of use for the operators, who are often working long shifts.”

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