The world of ‘material handling’ in logistics is constantly changing. But what are the real priorities in the workplace today? Which innovations make the difference between profit and loss? And what is the economic and safety importance of the right tires on forklift and reach trucks? Logistics Management looked for answers in the podcast ‘handling solutions in logistics’. Speaking: Frans Roukens (Yokohama-TWS / Trellenborg), Philippe Saey (Toyota Material Handling) and Dries Aneca (Lopos).
Logistics Management: What role do tires play in warehouse safety?
Frans Roukens (Yokohama-TWS / Trellenborg): Tires are literally the foundation of safe handling. Driving with bad tires increases the risk of accidents and collisions. But there is a lot of ignorance about when a tire is or is not ‘worn out’. The profile does not say everything, the grip is mainly in the rubber compound. That is why we developed an orange wear indicator that becomes visible when the tire has approximately 100 hours of life left. This provides clarity, prevents unnecessary replacements and increases safety.
In addition, quality tires ensure less heat build-up, better rolling resistance and less wear on other truck components. The right tire reduces the risk of damage, increases stability and contributes to lower costs.
Philippe Saey (Toyota Material Handling): At Toyota we fully opt for sustainability, including when choosing tires for our forklift trucks. Thanks to a trellenborg wear indicator, you can indeed accurately estimate when you need to replace those tires. Then you can plan that nicely. This way you don’t change tires if it isn’t necessary yet. This solution helps to reduce the waste mountain.
LM: What are other ways to avoid accidents and damage?
Dries Aneca (Lopos): At Lopos, which stands for ‘Logistics Positioning’, we build ‘proximity warning’ solutions that we integrate into forklifts. They continuously measure distances between vehicles, pedestrians and infrastructure. Based on this data, if there is a risk of collision, the system provides warnings via light, sound or automatic speed reduction. The system works autonomously and can even automatically reduce a vehicle’s power.
The costs of accidents involving forklift trucks are usually much greater than usually thought. There is material damage to gates and/or vehicles, possible loss of employees, production downtime and a lot of administrative follow-up. An investment in fewer accidents therefore pays for itself quite quickly. The return on investment, or ROI, of our security solutions is usually between four and eighteen months. And the higher the accident frequency, the faster the payback period decreases.
Saey: If you take possible human suffering into account, such an investment quickly becomes affordable and meaningful. But before you can think about the ROI, you first need to have the investment budget. And that is not always the case in companies. That is why at Toyota Material Handling we help spread our customers’ operational costs, the so-called OPEX, over the long term. Consider leasing, financing and total packages that include maintenance and service. This way, companies can get involved without major ‘upfront’ costs.
Answer to tightness
LM: An important trend in handling is certainly automation. Why are more and more companies focusing on this?
Saey: Automation is a direct response to the tightness in the labor market. Fewer and fewer young people are joining and an aging population is a fact. Automation is therefore not about replacing people, but about better deploying the people who are there for tasks with added value. No one is happy with repetitive work like driving from A to B. And AGVs, Automatic Guided Vehicles, and AMRs, Automatic Mobile Robots, can respond perfectly to this.
Moreover, automation increases the predictability of processes. An AGV that delivers a pallet at exactly 6 am makes the entire flow more efficient. Work can also be done with AGVs at night, without additional personnel.
Roukens: Automation not only helps perform tasks more efficiently, but also creates a safer environment for people. If tires provide comfort and a safe working environment is supported with automation, staff will also remain available for longer, literally and figuratively.
Aneca: Beats. Automation and security go hand in hand. We support this through our technology, which, among other things, reads the height of forklift masts and warns of the risk of gate damage. And that not only reduces the risks, but also the costs.
LM: What trends in handling solutions can we expect in the future?
Aneca: Data is increasingly playing a key role. We generate insights every day with our ‘beacons’. Who crosses whom? Where do most ‘near collisions’ happen? Which routes are inefficient? We analyze that data via AI and help companies optimize their processes. But AI is a means, not an end in itself. Companies must remain in control of their decisions.
Roukens: Data is also becoming increasingly important in the tire sector: think of tire sensors that monitor temperature and pressure. Measuring is knowing, even when it comes to tires. Furthermore, the focus is strongly on sustainability. We are moving towards ties with more natural resources.
Saey: 2026 will be a historic year for Toyota. We are celebrating 100 years and Toyota Industries is being reintegrated into Toyota Motors. The future lies in an integrated approach to the transport of people, goods, data and energy. Everything becomes one ecosystem. The boundary between internal transport and mobility is blurring.
There is a lot of ignorance about when a tire is ‘worn out’. That is why we developed an orange wear indicator. (Frans Roukens, Yokohama-TWS)
Choose advice
LM: Finally, what advice do you give to logistics professionals?
Roukens: Make sure you always use the right strap in the right place. Not necessarily always the most expensive solution, but the most suitable. This way you optimize safety, performance and costs.
Saey: Get advice. You cannot be an expert on everything yourself. Choose partners who think along with you, and view automation as a project, not as a product. The right guidance makes the difference.
Aneca: Be open to new solutions. Have a safety audit carried out, dare to identify risks and work on structural improvements. Do not see safety as a cost, but as an investment in continuity and operational reliability.
About the participants
Trelleborgpart of Yokohama TWSis a leading tire brand for internal transport and industrial applications. With high-quality rubber compounds and integrated tire-wheel systems, Trelleborg offers maximum safety, comfort and energy efficiency for forklifts, AGVs and warehouse trucks.
Toyota Material Handling is part of Toyota Industries Corporation and is active worldwide as a supplier of forklift trucks, warehouse trucks, automation solutions and fleet management systems.
Lopos develops proximity warning systems that protect pedestrians, vehicles and infrastructure in industrial environments, with real-time monitoring, data analysis and AI integration.
This podcast was recorded in La Vue, the exclusive B2B event location on the top floor of the company building of ‘Kris De Leeneer (KDL) | logistics, different’ in Lokeren.
More information: https://deleeneer.be/lavue
CAPTIONS:
PHOTO 1: Frans Roukens (Yokohama-TWS / Trellenborg): “Drivers with bad tires increase the risk of accidents and collisions.”
PHOTO 2: Philippe Saey (Toyota Material Handling): “The future lies in an integrated approach to the transport of people, goods, data and energy.”
PHOTO 3: Dries Aneca (Lopos): “The costs of an accident are usually much greater than usually thought.”
