Toyota forklifts lift
observatory to new heights
An observatory housing Australia’s largest optical telescope is benefiting from the
adaptability and available customisation of Toyota’s material handling equipment
at its facility at Siding Spring, near Coonabarabran in NSW.
In May 2015 The Australian Astronomical
Observatory (AAO) released a tender for the
supply of new material handling equipment.
The Toyota Material Handling Australia
(TMHA) branch at Newcastle was successful
and received the order for two new forklifts,
including an 8FG25 2.5-tonne capacity
internal combustion truck.
“We’d previously used battery-powered
forklifts and found that problems with battery
life were letting us down at crucial times, so
it was time to upgrade to an engine-powered
unit and the Toyota 8-Series forklift was
perfectly suited to our needs,” said AAO
operations manager Doug Gray.
The AAO’s order also included a BT
SWE120S walkie stacker forklift which
required specific modifications to ensure it
met their needs.
“Our primary telescope is seven stories high,
and our storage areas are small in floor
space but built high to make the most of the
available space. We needed a stacker that
could reach these high shelves and also fit
in a goods lift to enable it to access several
levels of the facility,” Mr Gray said.
TMHA Newcastle area sales manager
Allan Peacock said meeting these specific
requirements demonstrates TMHA’s ability
to adapt its equipment to suit a customer’s
unique needs.
“While we have a broad range of material
handling equipment to suit just about every
application, we are also able to modify our
products to ensure they are tailored to meet
our customers’ exact requirements,” Mr
Peacock said.
“It’s a real point of difference and we’re
proud to have been able to work with Doug
and the rest of the team at the AAO to
provide a bespoke solution to their particular
challenges.
“In this instance the AAO needed its BT
SWE120S stacker to reach a lift height of
3700mm and collapse to fit into a goods lift
with a door height of 1980mm. We put the
order in for a customised unit with a 3900mm
Triple Hi-Lo mast and a collapsed height of
1892mm, and it was delivered earlier this
year.”
Mr Gray said the whole process was very
orderly and smooth throughout.
“We’ve really been impressed with the ease
and professional manner in which the entire
process has been handled, and also with the
customer support and advice we’ve received
along the way.
“In fact, I’d be very happy if all our suppliers
were as good to deal with as TMHA have
been,” he said.
“We’re very pleased with the BT SWE120S
stacker, and with the customised design it’s
operating just as we’d anticipated.
“The 8-Series forklift has proven to be very
versatile too; we can now move supplies and
equipment around the site much more easily
than before.
“It’s also very reliable and never lets you
down. You just jump in and go,” he said.
The Australian Astronomical Observatory
operates the Anglo-Australian and UK
Schmidt telescopes to provide world-class
optical and infrared observing facilities for
Australian astronomers.
TMH Torque
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7
1800 425 438
TMH Torque
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1800 425 438
Toyota reveals C-HR for Australia
Extroverted exterior styling, an upscale cabin
ambience with superior features, advanced
safety and fun-to-drive dynamics will be
standard in Toyota’s two-pronged approach.
The C-HR’s aggressive exterior is the first
Toyota to exhibit a diamond architectural
theme with faceted gemstone-like shapes, fluid
surfaces and elegantly integrated detailing.
A sophisticated European-designed interior
offers enhanced emotional appeal with
fashionable styling, high sensory quality,
a driver-focused cockpit and engaging
functionality.
The promise of advanced driving pleasure
implicit in the eye-catching exterior design will
be delivered by a new, highly rigid platform, a
powerful yet efficient turbocharged engine and
front or all-wheel drive powertrains.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales
and marketing Tony Cramb said the C-HR
represents the next step in the evolution of
“SUV” because it does not fit neatly into a
category of vehicles that originally focused on
the ‘U’ for off-road utility.
“C-HR is a car for people who want something
special - those who desire the innovative
dynamism and emotional appeal that a
traditional SUV cannot offer,” Mr Cramb said.
“C-HR advances the very definition of SUV by
emphasising the ‘S’ that stands for ‘sport’ and
‘style’,” he said.
“It has four doors and a hatch, but it’s not a
hatchback; it’s compact while having a large
interior and room for five; it has a high driving
position, yet it’s not a boxy off-roader.
“Not only does the C-HR always look like it’s on
the move, the new platform and turbocharged
petrol engine ensure it delivers an agile driving
feel.”
The higher of the two local grades for C-HR will
be called Koba, a tribute to the car’s global chief
engineer, Hiroyuki Koba.
In keeping with the innovation of C-HR, Toyota
dealers are now offering customers the latest
showroom technology for configuring the car
with its rich palette of eight exterior colours,
including a new radiant green.
Local models will feature advanced safety
features including a pre-collision system with
autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control,
lane departure alert with steering control,
automatic high beam and a reversing camera.
Additional features for the Koba variants include
heated seats, a smart entry and start system,
privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The C-HR combines a powerful lower body and
raised ground clearance with the slim and sleek
cabin profile of a coupe.
Wheel arches project prominently at all four
corners to emphasise the new car’s strength and
rigidity.
The slender upper grille flows from the
Toyota badge into the sleek, aggressive wing
extremities of the headlamp clusters and wraps
around the front corners of the vehicle.
The C-HR’s coupe-like styling is further
enhanced by disguised rear door handles
integrated within the C pillar and the sweeping
roofline that projects into a large, aerodynamic
spoiler.
The strongly tapered cabin integrates a top-
hinged tailgate and prominent rear light clusters.
Inside, Toyota has debuted a “sensual tech”
design concept that combines high-tech
functionality with a sensual and fashionable
style.
Operating switchgear is slightly oriented towards
the driver and an asymmetrical centre console
design ensures all controls are within easy
reach.
Australian models will feature a 6.1-inch touch-
screen display and new two-tiered front-seat
design.
Diamond-shaped switches evoke the exterior
styling cues and the diamond theme is also
visible in the door trim pattern, the headliner and
the needles of the driver’s analogue instrument
dials.
Decorative elements are finished in high-quality
piano black and satin silver trim with clear blue
illumination for the instruments and switches.
Toyota Australia’s stunning C-HR will be offered in two premium grades when it
arrives in local showrooms during the first quarter of next year.
AAO operations manager Doug Gray with the Observatory’s
8FG25 2.5-tonne capacity forklift and modified BT SWE120S
walkie stacker forklift.
