More than two years ago, Veenstra | Fritom met Meijer Handling Solutions, manufacturer of KOOI® ReachForks, among other things, at a networking event. They hit it off immediately: both family businesses share a long history and a strong focus on quality and innovation.

Veenstra | Fritom is a leading player in warehousing, European transport, and 24-hour distribution within the Benelux, with cross-docking playing a key role. The principle is clear: pallets collected directly from manufacturers must arrive at the recipient as efficiently as possible within the agreed time. At the Veenstra | Fritom location, the pallets are therefore immediately redistributed and prepared for further distribution. The more efficient this process is, the better the result – both operationally and financially. The size of the floor space also plays a role in this: in cross-docking centers, pallets often travel considerable distances.

The challenge: fixed forklift forks

During discussions with Meijer, it emerged that Veenstra | Fritom only used forklifts with fixed forks. This was striking, because in an environment with a wide variety of pallets, Euro, block, and special sizes, this causes practical problems.

• The standard fixed forks of 1000 mm were often just too short. With Euro pallets, the rear crossbar could not be fully supported, which caused instability during loading and unloading.
• Long or non-standard pallets were not sufficiently supported, which could cause pallets to tip over, resulting in damage or even dangerous situations.
• Fork extensions were used as a temporary solution. However, these had to be collected, mounted, and removed again after use. This took time and increased the risk of errors.

In short, the fixed forks limited the efficiency and safety of the process.

The solution: hydraulically extendable reach forks

Meijer proposed the use of KOOI® ReachForks: hydraulically extendable forks that have been used worldwide since 1980. These forks can be easily extended and retracted from the driver’s cab. For Veenstra | Fritom’s situation, this meant that the forks could be extended from 1000 mm to 1600 mm.

According to Rico Veenstra, head of cross-docking, the effect was immediately clear:

“After a short trial period, we were convinced. We can choose to pick up one or two Euro pallets at a time on the long side, and Euro pallets on the short side are always stable because we can extend the forks to 1200 mm. Even with special long pallets, we can extend to 1600 mm. When three Euro pallets are placed side by side in a truck, it often takes an unnecessary amount of effort to remove the outer pallets with standard forks. After all, the forklift is often wider than the short side of the pallet, which means that drivers have to maneuver and correct their position in order to pick up the load properly. With KOOI® ReachForks, this is a lot easier: you extend the forks, place them directly under the pallet, and pull it toward you in one smooth movement. This saves time, prevents cumbersome turning, and makes the work for the forklift driver a lot more efficient and pleasant. “This immediately results in greater safety and speed.”

Concrete measurable benefits with KOOI® ReachForks

Since its first introduction in 2023, Veenstra | Fritom has now equipped already seven forklifts with KOOI® ReachForks. The results speak for themselves:

• 20% faster unloading of trucks.
• Up to 37% faster loading of trucks.
• Less damage to pallets and goods.
• Greater efficiency because one forklift truck can handle multiple pallet configurations.
• Cost savings due to fewer night hours required and the same work volume with the same number of forklift trucks.

Although some applications require a slightly heavier forklift truck, the investment is more than offset by the savings achieved.

Conclusion

The introduction of KOOI® ReachForks has led to a significant leap in efficiency, safety, and cost control at Veenstra | Fritom. The company can now do more work in less time and with less damage, while maintaining the same capacity.

Rico Veenstra sums it up succinctly:

“We would have liked to have discovered the reach forks sooner, but better late than never. They have become practically indispensable for us and our drivers.”

The family business Veenstra|Fritom was founded in 1928 and is part of the Fritom Group. The Fritom Group has over 800 employees and is one of the leading logistics service providers in the Netherlands.