Generation seven models from Toyota are proving to be the fork lift of choice in the fresh produce industry, thanks to a wide range of safety and efficiency features.

Detling Coldstores opened in June and Simon Egalton, managing director said: 'Starting a new business, some very careful decisions have to be made and we felt that the Toyota trucks would be the most efficient and reliable.' Derek Robson, sales manager at Kent supplier Anker added: 'Generation sevenmodels are proving popular because they offer a range of safety and efficiency features including automatic fork levelling.

'These features help prevent damage to goods because operators simply press a button on the tilt lever to position the forks horizontally. This means the pallets are more likely to be handled and stacked correctly, with the risk of damage reduced.' Anker has supplied a total of nine Toyota trucks to Detling Coldstores, including three engine powered counterbalanced forklifts and six pallet trucks. The counterbalanced trucks are used for unloading and moving the pallets into the coldstore while the electric pallet trucks are used on the loading bays and for moving the pallets within the coldstore.