FD180 18 Ton High Mast Container Forklift Truck For Logistics Yard Stacking

Yard space is expensive, and the FD180H exists to buy more of it vertically. An 18,000 kg rated chassis carries a 6000 mm three stage mast with a wide channel section, reinforced by an additional box beam and a secondary tilt cylinder so that a loaded 20 ft container can be placed four high without mast whip. Hydraulic flow is load sensing, which means lifting speed stays predictable at height instead of dropping off as the pump works harder. The machine targets logistics yards, freight forwarder compounds and empty container depots where stacking density is the main constraint on throughput.

• 6000 mm Three Stage Mast A three stage mast reaches 6000 mm with 1800 mm free lift, enabling four high stacking of 20 ft containers on a footprint normally used for three.
• Reinforced Mast Structure Additional box beam webbing and a secondary tilt cylinder control mast deflection when a loaded box is raised fully, keeping the load level at height.
• Load Sensing Hydraulics A variable displacement pump maintains lifting speed under load, so the last metre of a six metre lift is as quick as the first.
• 18 Tonne Structural Margin Rated at 18 tonnes on a 1220 mm load centre with residual capacity figures published for every mast height above 4 m.
• Height Safety Package Mast angle indication, overload warning, descent control valve and a load moment limiter are fitted as standard on this mast configuration.
• Compact Yard Footprint At 2650 mm wide with a 4900 mm wheelbase the truck still turns inside a 9 m aisle, so dense stacking layouts remain workable.

Designed for empty and loaded container depots, freight forwarder compounds, feeder port yards and cross dock facilities where floor area is fixed but volume keeps growing. The extra two metres of lift converts a three high layout into a four high layout without new ground, and the load sensing hydraulics keep cycle times stable when stacking reaches full height.

An empty container depot in Jakarta was limited to three high stacking on a 9,000 square metre site. Two FD180H units lifted the layout to four high, raising yard capacity by 31 percent without additional land. Cycle time for a full height placement measured 68 seconds against 74 seconds for the older three stage trucks on site, and the depot avoided a planned yard extension.

SLD is a specialised heavy lift forklift manufacturer with a product range from 12 to 45 tonnes and a factory footprint of 86,000 square metres. The plant includes a mast welding line, a 200 tonne vehicle test station and a full paint and assembly hall, supported by 320 production staff and 40 engineers. Around 65 percent of annual output is exported to over 70 countries, and the company maintains CE, ISO 9001 and SGS certifications with annual third party inspection. Service parts are stocked in four regional warehouses.

Eighteen years of building counterbalance trucks shows in the details. Early units in this series went into steel coil yards in 2011, and the driveline, mast section and hydraulic cooling package have been revised nine times based on that field data. Weld procedures follow ISO 3834 practice, each mast is load tested at 125 percent of rated capacity, and every truck completes a 4 hour run in test before shipment. Warranty return rate on the heavy lift range sits below 1.8 percent across the last three production years.

Q: Is capacity reduced at 6000 mm?
Residual capacity at 6000 mm with a 1220 mm load centre is 15,200 kg. The mast data plate lists the figure at every 500 mm increment up to full height.

Q: Does the truck need a wider aisle for the tall mast?
Aisle requirement is dictated by the chassis turning circle, not the mast. Minimum intersecting aisle for this model is 9 m with a 20 ft container.

Q: What safety devices are fitted to the high mast?
Overload warning, descent control valve, mast tilt indication and a load moment limiter are standard. A camera and monitor for high placement is optional.

Q: Can it stack empty containers faster with a spreader?
An optional telescopic spreader raises empty container throughput by 20 to 25 percent compared with fork pocket handling, and can be fitted at any time.

Q: How does shipping work for a 6 m mast?
The three stage mast travels assembled on a flat rack with the sections nested, giving a shipping height near 3100 mm, so standard flat rack dimensions apply.

Shipping follows flat rack or break bulk depending on destination port, with the mast folded, forks removed and every hydraulic port sealed against moisture. Delivery is 30 working days from confirmed order. T/T and L/C payment terms apply, minimum order one unit. A 12 month or 2,000 hour warranty covers the frame, mast, transmission and hydraulic system, and the export team provides loading supervision, fumigation certificates and a two year recommended spare parts schedule with the shipment.