Clark Debuts WPL40 Li-Ion Battery-Electric Pallet Jack

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The lithium-ion battery-powered Clark WPL40 can lift 4,000 pounds and pinwheel sharply to move pallets in and out of tight spaces. (Photo courtesy of Clark.)

Clark Material Handling has introduced its new, low-maintenance WPL40 battery-electric pallet jack. Designed for use in warehouses and manufacturing facilities, the WPL40 can raise a 4,000-pound (1,814-kilogram) pallet to 7.5 inches (191 millimeters) off the ground. It can also turn very sharply to move loads in and out of tight spaces.

“This new WPL40 brings several key innovations to the electric pallet jack line,” says Clark National Sales Manager Rick Dahlke. “From the lithium-ion battery and its consistent power throughout the charge cycle to the ability to pinwheel with the handle in the upright position, the WPL40 fills the needs of our customers in new and exciting ways.”

A Better Battery Pack

The new WPL40’s power comes from a maintenance-free, 48-volt lithium-ion battery. Clark says the battery supplies just as much power at 10% charge capacity as it does at full charge. The WPL40 has a permanent magnet DC hydraulic pump motor and a chrome-plated lift cylinder.

The shape of the new Clark pallet jack’s toe box, or load wheel housing, helps it to engage and disengage pallets without needing wearable rollers. The WPL40 has a pallet entry slide system and tapered fork tips that can be lifted over the bottom board of a pallet.

Control & Handling

The Clark WPL40’s ambidextrous, ergonomic control handle is made out of durable steel tubing. It gives the operator access to all travel, lift, and lower controls without lifting their hand. These include a thumb control, a horn, and a crawl speed setting for maneuvering in tight spaces. The handle requires minimal steering effort and features a smooth, automatic return to its vertical position.

Clark mounted the pallet jack’s electromagnetic brake on its motor armature shaft to keep it free of debris and to leverage the transmission’s gearing for a better braking effect. The lift automatically engages its parking brake when it comes to a stop and the operator releases its handle. An anti-rollback feature and the WPL40’s neutral braking system lend themselves to the lift’s predictable performance during operation.

The WPL40 comes standard with an emergency reversing switch and an emergency power disconnect. An onboard dock simplifies battery exchanges, while a two-piece wheel design makes tire replacement easier. The user can adjust the lift’s pull rods and torsion bar for greater durability in delivery truck and loading dock applications, Clark says.

Source: Clark