Managing a paper mill means managing a continuous process. From reels coming off the dryers to the converting line, through to finished palletized goods loaded onto trucks – the handling chain never stops. When it does, the cost lands directly on the production schedule.
For decades, diesel was the default answer in high-capacity applications. Not by technical choice, but by lack of credible alternatives. Carer Forklift, an Italian manufacturer of high-capacity electric counterbalanced forklifts, has been developing those alternatives for 50 years.
A specialist in electric where diesel was the only option
Based in Cotignola, Emilia-Romagna, CARER FORKLIFT designs and builds electric counterbalanced forklifts with load capacities up to 20 tons – a complete range covering the entire handling cycle in both tissue and conventional paper mills: from reel extraction to storage, from logistics in the converting area to yard operations.
The offer is straightforward: electric performance without the diesel trade-offs. Zero emissions, minimal noise on the production floor, and a total cost of ownership significantly lower than internal combustion alternatives – with documented savings in the hundreds of thousands of euros over five years. And the operational continuity fleet managers require when downtime is not in the budget.
Carer Forklift equipment is engineered for demanding environments: multi-turn cycles, varied floor surfaces, mixed indoor-outdoor use. Exactly the operational profile tissue mills know well.
Handling large-format reels is considerably more than a generic lifting operation. It requires roll clamps with rotating heads, hydraulic side shifting, full-visibility mast configurations, and a truck stable enough to operate safely under load in the tight geometries of a converting area. Off-the-shelf equipment from a generalist manufacturer rarely hits that mark without intervention.
Carer Forklift addresses this through a dedicated engineering division – the SPED (Special Products Engineering Department) – which develops custom solutions for specific handling requirements. This includes high-capacity trucks with compact footprints and excellent visibility for maneuvering paper reels in narrow aisles and confined spaces, including inside containers.
Performance is backed by extended operating autonomy. High-voltage motors combined with high-capacity battery systems cover a full working shift, with batteries designed for straightforward removal when multi-shift operation requires a change.
The operator environment is designed to reduce fatigue, with clear visibility over the load for confident, low-stress operation. Trucks can be equipped with clamps and spreaders suited to center-of-truck reel handling.
The Carer AX series – the electric line calibrated to diesel performance benchmarks – has established itself as a reference in tissue and paper applications.
The Carer A 80 X illustrates the point. Configured with a single front tyre – solid superelastic, puncture-proof, replacing the standard twin-tyre setup – it offers a steering radius and aisle width requirement that opens handling options in older facilities designed well before current fleet dimensions became the norm.
The elimination of puncture risk removes unplanned downtime from pneumatic failure on production floors where debris and processing residues are a given. The truck is approved for both indoor and outdoor use, including uneven surfaces, covering the complete handling cycle on a typical tissue site.
Performance parameters match or exceed diesel equivalents. The A series was built on the premise that electrification should not mean compromising on power or duty cycle. The AX carries that logic into one of the most demanding handling environments in the paper industry.
