Aisle-Master was founded in 2000 by the developers of the highly successful Combilift 4-way forklift, Gerry McHugh, Robert Moffett, Martin McVicar and Gerry Harte. First launched in the UK in 2001, the Aisle-Master is an effective solution to space problems for a wide range of sectors such as 3rd party logistics, DIY, manufacturing, and the food and beverage industry.
Aisle-Master set out to design and develop a warehouse truck that could work in a narrow aisle thereby increasing storage space and also able operate both indoors and outside. The Aisle-Master is primarily aimed at warehousing and logistics operations and third party logistics companies, but can be used in many diverse applications. It's not application-specific: its uses are as wide as the variety of product you can store on a pallet!
The major advantages of the Aisle-Master are: Firstly; space saving. By narrowing down working aisle widths to just under 2 metres, MD Gerry McHugh believes that a potential increase in storage capacity of 50% can be achieved over reach and counterbalance forklifts. Secondly, it was specifically designed to work both inside and out, and incorporates features such as cushioned tyres for operation on unpaved yards. It can therefore replace an inefficient combination of counterbalance trucks for outside offloading and reach or guided VNA trucks for pallet placement inside. This obviously makes for much simpler and straightforward operations, eliminating double handling and speeding up "truck to rack" transportation.
Lift heights of up to 10.5m and capacities of 2.000kg make the Aisle-Master a flexible option for a wide variety of applications. With the Aisle-Master customers have been able to double storage capacity by replacing a reach truck with an Aisle-Master and consequently halved working aisle-widths in store areas.
Aisle-Master has achieved impressive global exports with trucks operating in most EU countries and as far afield as Australasia and North and Central America. To date Aisle-Master are approaching 1,000 machines sold outside the UK and Ireland. It has concentrated on building a core product range that does exactly what the manufacturers promise. Long regarded as a specialist in the field of LPG technology, Aisle-Master has now also introduced the additional option of electric trucks to its range, perfect for the refrigeration and food and beverage industry.
All LPG models are fitted with 3 way catalytic converters as standard, with CNG power also an option. Aisle-Master already manufactures to the stringent USA Tier II emission regulation standards and is well equipped to comply with any tightening of domestic regulations. Build quality is also a particular feature of the Aisle-Master range, which is manufactured at the company's dedicated facility in Ireland. The trucks undergo stringent quality controls resulting in a reputation for extremely reliable operation.
When it comes to the actual business of driving the trucks, Aisle-Master drivers are unanimous in their praise for its easy operation. This can be put down to the logical layout of controls and the specific intention of the design engineers to keep complicated (and therefore sensitive) electronics to a minimum. Its robust construction, excellent visibility from the cab, high quality suspension seat, adjustable steering column and lack of rear end swing when manoeuvering all contribute to a safer and more comfortable working environment.