The beer industry is a sector with high requirements for supply chain operation in the field of FMCG. From empty bottle warehousing and unloading, finished product warehouse turnover to end point loading and shipment, every warehousing and handling link directly affects the operation efficiency and product delivery quality of the enterprise. With the intensification of industry competition and the popularization of green production concepts, beer companies have put forward higher requirements for the load capacity, battery life performance, environmental protection attributes and operating costs of handling equipment. Based on long-term research and in-depth understanding of the handling conditions of the beer industry, BYD Forklift has launched targeted warehousing and handling solutions, with mature lithium battery technology as the core, coupled with customized product configuration and full-cycle service system, to help beer companies build an efficient, low-carbon and low-cost internal logistics system.

First, the typical characteristics of handling conditions in the beer industry

The storage and handling scene of the beer industry has distinct industry attributes, and its working conditions pose multiple tests to the performance and adaptability of the handling equipment.
The first is that the operating load is generally high. In core operating scenarios such as empty bottle unloading and stacking, finished product warehouse turnover, and finished product loading and shipment, the single operating load is mostly concentrated in the 2-3 ton range, requiring handling equipment to have stable heavy-duty operation capacity and reliable structural strength.
Secondly, the operation time is long, and there are obvious seasonal fluctuations. Most beer companies use the two-shift production model, and the average daily working hours of forklifts can reach 12 hours. During the peak sales season, the operation intensity is further increased, which poses a direct challenge to the continuous operation ability and energy replenishment efficiency of the equipment.
The third is that outdoor operations account for a high proportion. The loading and unloading and factory transshipment of the beer industry are mostly completed in outdoor venues, and the equipment needs to adapt to the changing outdoor temperature and humidity and site conditions to ensure the stability of operations in different weather conditions.
The fourth is that there is a clear demand for customized genus. In order to improve the efficiency of single handling, beer companies often need to fork two pallets at one time, and the adaptability and installation compatibility requirements for exclusive attachments such as double pallet forks are high.
Finally, the goods are fragile, and the operation stability requirements are strict. Beer bottles and cans belong to the fragile category, and they need to be handled with care during handling and stacking. There are high standards for the control accuracy and lifting buffer performance of the forklift to reduce the damage rate of the goods.

Second, the industry application pain points of traditional handling equipment

In past production practices, most beer companies used lead-acid battery forklifts as the main handling equipment, but in the process of adapting to industry conditions, various limitations were gradually exposed, making it difficult to meet the needs of industry upgrades.
First, the daily maintenance process is cumbersome and requires a lot of manpower. Lead-acid batteries require regular addition of distilled water and electrolyte preparation. The maintenance process is complex and professional. If the maintenance operation is not standardized, the battery life will be shortened, and the human and time costs of the enterprise will be increased.
Second, the energy replenishment efficiency is limited, and the spare battery pushes up the comprehensive cost. Lead-acid batteries charge slowly. In order to ensure continuous operation in multiple shifts, enterprises need to equip spare batteries and arrange for daily replacement. In some scenarios, special forklifts or cranes are required to assist in power replacement, which further increases equipment investment and operating costs.
Third, there are potential pollution and safety risks. Lead-acid batteries are prone to acid mist during operation, which may cause secondary pollution risks to products with high production environment requirements such as beer, and will also affect the working environment and personnel health; the hydrogen emitted during the charging process also has certain safety hazards.
Fourth, the demand for dedicated infrastructure drives up upfront investment. Due to the characteristics of acid mist and hydrogen emissions, lead-acid battery forklifts need to be equipped with a dedicated charging room and arranged for special management, which not only takes up valuable production and storage space, but also increases the infrastructure and management costs of enterprises.

III. BYD forklift industry-specific solutions

In response to the working conditions and existing pain points of the beer industry, BYD forklifts have created an integrated industry handling solution from the four dimensions of product selection, configuration upgrade, custom adaptation, and service guarantee, and multi-dimensionally match the operational needs of enterprises.

(1) Product matrix covering the entire scenario

Combining the functional requirements of different operating scenarios in the beer industry, BYD forklifts provide two core equipment to cover various operating scenarios for warehousing and handling.
Aiming at the three core scenarios of empty bottle handling, finished product turnover, and loading and shipping, the 3.5T counterbalanced forklift is the main selection. This model has the characteristics of agility and small turning radius, which can adapt to the limited working space of warehouses and loading and unloading areas, and at the same time stably meet the conventional load requirements of 2-3 tons. It takes into account the operation efficiency and control accuracy, and adapts to the operation requirements of light handling of fragile goods.
In response to the long-distance and large-capacity transshipment needs of the factory, the 25T tractor can provide sufficient power to ensure the efficiency of material circulation, and is suitable for the large-scale factory material turnover scenarios of beer companies.

(2) Core configuration builds operational advantages

BYD forklifts are based on self-developed Sandian technology and are paired with high-quality mainstream components to form a differentiated advantage in terms of operating costs, operational efficiency and operational reliability.
In terms of power system, both main models are recommended to be equipped with a 560Ah large-capacity lithium battery, which can support 8-10 hours of continuous operation on a single charge; with a high-current charging cabinet, it can achieve fast replenishment and ready-to-use charging. Enterprises can use employees to complete charging and replenishment during rest breaks, and can meet the battery life requirements of second-shift or even high-intensity operations in peak seasons without the need for spare batteries.
In terms of operating costs, the energy efficiency performance of lithium-ion forklifts is more advantageous. According to the calculation of 3.5-ton models working 12 hours a day and 30 days a month, BYD electric forklifts consume about 6 kWh of electricity per hour, and the monthly electricity bill is about 1740 yuan; compared with lead-acid battery forklifts of the same tonnage, the monthly energy consumption cost is lower. From a long-term operation perspective, with a five-year cycle, comprehensive energy consumption, maintenance, battery amortization and maintenance and other costs, BYD electric forklifts can significantly reduce the comprehensive operating cost of a single device, helping enterprises achieve long-term cost reduction and efficiency increase.
In terms of core components and safety design, the model is equipped with mature mainstream components such as controllers, motors, hydraulic pumps and multi-way valves, which can adapt to the heavy operating conditions of the beer industry and ensure the durability and operation stability of the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle is equipped with multiple safety designs such as slope protection, overload protection, low cylinder buffer, vehicle power-off protection, low power protection, and turning speed limit, which further enhance operation safety and reduce the risk of breakage of fragile goods.
In terms of ergonomic design, vehicles are equipped with non-slip pedals, warning lights, fans, panoramic rearview mirrors, and other user-friendly configurations to optimize the operator's working experience and help improve work efficiency under long-term operation.

(3) Customized design to match individual needs

Taking into account the differentiated operation needs of different beer companies, BYD forklifts provide a number of customization options. Enterprises can customize the height of the gantry according to the actual warehouse floor height, and freely choose the specifications of the fork; for outdoor operation scenarios, it can be equipped with a fully enclosed cab to improve the outdoor working environment; at the same time, it supports the installation of professional attachments such as external side shifters and double pallet forks, which fully match the handling operation habits of the beer industry and improve the efficiency of single operations.

(IV) Full-cycle service to ensure the car experience

In addition to product and configuration advantages, BYD forklifts also provide a complete service system to reduce the maintenance concerns of enterprises with long-term vehicles.
In terms of quality assurance services, BYD forklifts provide a 5-year quality assurance cycle for batteries, which can effectively reduce the maintenance investment of long-term vehicles for enterprises compared with the conventional quality assurance standards in the industry.
In the service process, a full-process tracking mechanism covering pre-sales, in-sales, and after-sales has been established: pre-sales demand analysis, selection communication, and program customization are provided, delivery training, use demonstrations, and manual interpretation are carried out during sales, and after-sales follow-up service maintenance, vehicle repair, and effect feedback are provided to provide customers with one-stop service.
In terms of response efficiency, a hierarchical response mechanism has been established. Service personnel will be contacted within 1 hour after customer feedback, and nearby service personnel will be arranged to arrive at the scene within 12 hours. General faults will be resolved within 24 hours, and special problems will be dealt with within 3 days. If they are not resolved within 3 days, spare vehicles will be provided free of charge to ensure that the normal operation of the enterprise is not affected.

In addition, it also provides a step-by-step professional training system, covering multiple levels such as primary operation, daily maintenance, fault emergency to difficult problem handling; at the same time, it supports a variety of flexible cooperation models such as sales, financial leasing, and operating leasing, adapting to the procurement planning and funding arrangements of different enterprises.

IV. Industry practices and customer recognition

With product solutions and stable service capabilities that are suitable for the needs of the industry, BYD forklifts have landed in many leading beer companies. At present, many well-known beer companies such as Snow Beer, Tsingtao Beer, and Budweiser Beer have introduced BYD 3.5T counterbalanced forklifts, which are used in core operation scenarios such as incoming material warehouses and finished product warehouses. The scale of equipment investment ranges from dozens to hundreds. The stable operation performance and considerable cost reduction effect have been recognized by customers. In addition to the beer industry, this series of forklifts and tractors have also been landed in paper, automotive, feed, steel and other industries, adapting to the heavy-duty handling needs of different fields.

As the beer industry continues to upgrade towards intelligence and greening, the equipment iteration in the internal logistics link has become an important breakthrough point for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. BYD forklifts rely on their own technology accumulation in the lithium battery field and in-depth understanding of industry working conditions to continuously polish the exclusive handling solutions for the beer industry. While ensuring operational efficiency and safety, they help enterprises reduce operating costs and practice green production concepts. In the future, they will continue to optimize products and services to provide reliable equipment support for the logistics upgrade of the beer industry.