Ten Toyota forklifts are at the heart of a dedicated operation at Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, where the aim to win Formula 1 in the next few years involves around 700 employees in the design and build of the entire Panasonic Toyota Racing car under one roof.
A long-standing relationship with Toyota Industrial Equipment has seen Toyota Motorsport use Toyota forklifts since 1988, initially in its Rally Championship division and then at the Formula 1 factory after it opened in 2000.
Toyota’s first year of competitive Formula 1 racing was 2002, when the TF101 was first seen on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix. In 2005, Panasonic Toyota Racing made major changes to its driver line-up, bringing in Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher to drive the TF105. Now in its fifth season, the team secured an impressive third place at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix and holds a strong 5th place in the championship standings.
Toyota forklifts at the F1 factory include six electric powered forklifts (five 7FBEF18’s and one 7FBMF35) and four gas powered trucks (two 7FG25’s, one heavy duty 5FG60 and one 7FGF30). These are used across all areas of the site, from the aerodynamic department to the warehouses, where they load and unload parts from delivery lorries, stack goods and transport materials across the site. One particular use for the large 5FG60 forklift is in research and development, where it helps to move models around. It also carries out all the heavier lifting work around the site, moving containers and machinery.
Reliability is the single most important element of any equipment used at the factory. Building both chassis and engine in one factory is a huge undertaking, requiring hard work and commitment from all employees. It’s important that the materials handling unction is up to the job.
Safety is another consideration. With 112 people licensed to operate the forklifts, Toyota Motorsport invests heavily in training to ensure anyone who uses a forklift on site is fully able to do so. An annual education and training day is held for the forklift operators. Safety is extremely important on site and making sure that the drivers use the forklifts responsibly is critical.
The drivers like the fact that the forklifts run quietly and are easy to handle, making it easier to move goods around safely and efficiently. Their high quality build and ability to respond quickly in all types of situations help to make working life in the factory much simpler. Toyota forklifts provide the high level of reliability and support needed to help run the Formula 1 factory successfully. This demonstrates how Toyota teamwork can help to build a world-class operation.
