Jungheinrich Australia shows how lithium-ion technology is helping businesses build long-term operational certainty.
“A fool with a plan can beat a genius without a plan” is a classic T. Boone Pickens quote, highlighting the importance of discipline, strategy and execution. For businesses across all industries, long-term planning remains central to maintaining competitiveness and stability.
“Most businesses have a long-term view to remain competitive and relevant from a commercial perspective,” said Scott Coy, director of rental and sales management at Jungheinrich Australia. “However, there are still existing pressures.”
Energy remains one of the most pressing. With global instability continuing to place pressure on fuel and electricity markets, the food and beverage sector is facing rising costs across the supply chain. From primary production and processing through to warehousing, transport and retail, increases in energy and fuel costs continue to affect business operations.
Coy has spent more than 20 years in fleet and rental management across industrial sectors. Working with customers navigating shifting energy markets and supply chain pressure, he sees businesses trying to balance efficiency, reliability and long-term cost control in an unpredictable environment.
One area receiving increased attention is materials handling equipment.
Lithium-ion technology
As manufacturers and distributors look for ways to improve operational efficiency, warehouse fleets are becoming a focus for optimisation. In high volume environments where forklifts operate continuously, even small improvements in uptime and energy management can affect overall productivity.
“Fuel and energy pricing pressures are being felt across all industries and it’s prompting businesses to assess how they operate,” said Coy.
According to Coy, this is driving more organisations to reconsider how forklift fleets are powered, with lithium-ion technology becoming a common alternative to traditional lead acid batteries and internal combustion engines.
“Lithium-ion technology is a critical piece of the puzzle in warehousing and logistics,” said Coy.
Lead acid battery systems have been used for decades and continue to provide a reliable solution for many operators. However, Coy explained that they can also create operational limitations, particularly in continuous processing environments.
Lead acid systems require scheduled charging and cooling periods, which can reduce flexibility across shifts and place limitations on fleet availability. Lithium-ion batteries, by comparison, support opportunity charging, allowing equipment to be charged during short operational breaks without negatively impacting battery life.
For food and beverage manufacturers operating around the clock, this flexibility can support consistent workflows and reduce interruptions.
“In a continuous 24/7 operation for the food and beverage sector, the ability to charge at any time becomes important from a cost efficiency perspective,” said Coy.
Maintenance requirements also differ between the two systems. Traditional lead acid batteries typically require water top ups, dedicated charging infrastructure and regular servicing by trained personnel. Lithium-ion systems remove much of this maintenance burden.
“Lithium ion systems eliminate the need for routine battery servicing,” added Coy. “This significantly reduces downtime and removes many of the ongoing servicing costs associated with traditional battery systems.”
The reduction in maintenance and downtime can be valuable in food and beverage facilities where uptime, labour availability and scheduling consistency are closely linked to production performance.
Go electric
Despite the operational advantages associated with lithium-ion systems, many organisations still rely on lead acid or internal combustion fleets.
Coy said one of the most common barriers to adoption is operator familiarity. Many warehouse teams have spent years working with existing equipment and processes, making change management an important part of any transition.
“The human reluctance for change is also coupled with the infrastructure of the warehouse,” said Coy.
Existing facilities may also require electrical upgrades or charging infrastructure changes to support lithium-ion fleets. While these upgrades can deliver long-term operational benefits, the upfront investment can create hesitation for some operators.
Even so, Coy believes the transition towards electric fleets will continue as businesses place greater emphasis on operational efficiency, energy management and long-term planning.
Jungheinrich Australia’s ongoing Go Electric campaign is focused on supporting that shift. The company offers a range of fleet solutions designed to suit different operational requirements, including short-term rental, long-term rental and capital purchase arrangements supported by servicing agreements.
“We offer short-term rental solutions that cover periods from a single day to 12 months, and long-term solutions, which can stretch out to seven years and beyond,” said Coy.
Rental options provide businesses with greater flexibility, particularly during seasonal peaks or changing production cycles. Instead of committing to permanent fleet expansion, operators can scale equipment requirements according to demand.
For food and beverage manufacturers facing fluctuating production volumes, this can reduce unnecessary capital expenditure while maintaining operational capacity during busier periods.
The approach also allows businesses to trial different fleet configurations and technologies before committing to long term investments.
Finding certainty in a volatile market
While market conditions remain difficult to predict, Coy believes businesses can improve resilience through stronger planning and supplier relationships.
When asked what advice he would offer food and beverage manufacturers navigating current pressures, he emphasised the importance of transparency and long-term collaboration.
“It is also important to ensure those trusted suppliers and partners are being transparent with all discussions and interactions for the benefit of your own business,” he said.
He said that building certainty in uncertain conditions requires suppliers, partners and manufacturers to work closely together on operational planning, cost forecasting and long-term efficiency strategies.
Jungheinrich continues to invest in research and development across energy systems and integrated lithium-ion technologies as part of this approach. Coy said this investment is aimed at helping customers improve confidence in their operational decisions while adapting to changing market conditions.
“At Jungheinrich, we partner and work very closely with customers to help them achieve positive commercial impacts in an uncertain market,” said Coy.
