Wheeling away inefficiency

According to Nu-Star, the savings made in reduced labour and enhanced efficiency ensure rapid return on investment in a range of engineering and materials handling markets.

These industries call for increased profitability and efficiency, while at the same time demanding compliance with relevant health and safety regulations. The MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is said to eliminate the pushing and pulling required when using a conventional manual wheelbarrow and, says Nu-Star, since it has a push-button operated electric dump (capable of tipping loads up to 350kg), it also removes the lifting effort required when emptying/dumping a wheelbarrow load.

With a choice of either 800W or 1,200W DC electric drive motors, the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is designed to be virtually noise free in its operation, in a bid to make it suitable for internal use and in areas where noise pollution is a concern for local residents.

To address hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), there are no handle-bar vibrations and the Electric Wheelbarrow may be used without having to assess this potential risk to the operator. It is available with both moulded industrial plastic and galvanized steel tubs, which may be interchanged by removing locking detent pins on the sub-frame. Other attachments, such as a flat-bed for transporting bricks, tiles and blocks are also available.

Power comes from two 12V, 90AHr batteries, each is said to be sealed-for-life and maintenance free. The waterproof battery charger is fitted on-board and may be connected to either a 220V or 110V power supply. The batteries and battery charger are matched to enable opportunity charging, at any point in the charging cycle. A coloured, LED battery-charge indicator gauge on the control panel shows the battery state.

Designed to be highly manoeuvrable, the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is operated using a variable, twist-grip throttle on the right handle in conjunction with a forwards/backwards direction switch on the control panel. Maximum speed is up to 4.6km/h for the 800W version and up to 6km/h for 1,200W version. An additional ‘tortoise’ mode switch on the control panel is said to reduce maximum speed by 50% in a bid to enable inch-perfect positioning when activating the electric-tip and to help achieve a graduated release of the wheelbarrow contents.

The front drive wheels and rear swivelling castor are fitted with industrial foam-filled tyres, which Nu-Star says makes them puncture-proof and impervious to deflation from sharp objects within working environments. In addition to regenerative braking provided by the 125Amp motor controller, there is a 6Nm electromagnetic brake for holding the wheelbarrow when on slopes and when in transit between locations.

Typical uses for the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow include:
    •    -    General bulk handling of smaller parts
    •    -    Barrowing and safe depositing of wet and dry powdered or granulated materials
    •    -    Safe handling during both indoor and outdoor conditions
    •    -    Stable transportation of larger unit components
    •    -    Easy movement of manufactured goods between workstations, or when problems occur with conveyor systems
    •    -    Small internal and external construction projects including barrowing concrete from roadside delivery lorries
    •    -    Crop harvesting in glasshouses and poly-tunnels
    •    -    Moving mulch, stone, aggregates, sand, wood chip & plants on landscaping projects
    •    -    Moving feedstuffs in stables and ‘mucking out’

No driving licence is required to use the MUV, which may be loaded quickly into a van or onto a trailer using three scaffold planks, a tail-lift or ramp. The MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is now available for both sale and hire, direct from the OEM.

Nu-Star will be displaying the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow on stand X46 at The Executive Hire Show, taking place on the 11th and 12th February 2015 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

Further information is available on request to: Nu-Star Material Handling, Lakeside, Ednaston Business Centre, Ednaston, Derbyshire  DE6 3AE.

Telephone: 0115 880 0070 - Fax: 0115 880 0071 - e-mail: enquiries@nu-starmhl.com