The Flexicoil Truck was a design patented by Electro-Motive to improve suspension and ride quality on its diesel locomotives. Up until the time it first entered production during the 1950s EMD had primarily relied on its tried and true Blomberg truck for all main line road power from the FT through early Geeps (this truck actually remained cataloged until the 1980s). The Flexicoil came in a wide range of options and styles over the years as EMD improved upon the design for better ride quality and durability. The truck was widely used as a six-axle version on road-switchers although Electro-Motive also began offering a two-axle design for switchers starting in the 1950s. Due to the success and wide-scale use of Flexicoils you can still find many in regular service today, particularly on short lines and regionals.

The Flexi AC range of articulated warehouse trucks dramatically improves storage, handling and customer order assembly efficiency within manufacturing, wareh.

The Flexi AC Articulated Truck Range works in Very Narrow Aisles, optimising storage capacity and load throughput. Improves warehouse profitability and 30% f. Flexi Truck or Bendi Truck Operator. Refresher Course. Refresh how to safely and effectively operate a Flexi or Bendi truck. To refresh the basic skill requirements and associated job safety knowledge to operators of Flexi or Bendi trucks, to delegates with formal training and experience on rider type lift trucks. Flexi Narrow Aisle – the UK-based manufacturer of the Flexi AC range of articulated forklift trucks has over 300 trucks in its short term rental (STR) fleet. The Flexi is a conventionally styled forklift. It’s an easy to drive 4-wheel forklift with 100% of power to both front wheels at all times, and is capable of working in about half the aisle.

During Electro-Motive's early era of manufacturing diesel locomotives it relied on a truck designed by noted engineer Martin Blomberg, for which it was named. For many years he was employed with the Pullman Company where he did essentially the same type of work. His patented 'Blomberg' design became EMD's standard four-axle truck for 50 years after first appearing on the revolutionary FT cab model of 1939. It continued to be cataloged until the Santa Fe ordered the last Geeps EMD offered, the GP60, during the late 1980s! However, the builder needed a three-axle design when it released its C-C, model SD7 in 1952. The 'SD' stood for Special Duty, and was a six-axle version of EMD's popular GP7 first offered in 1949. While the SD7 saw fewer than 200 sales later models in the series were much, much more successful.

Notable Models To Carry Flexicoil Trucks

The SW1200
The SW1500

The SD18
The SD24

The SD35
The SD38 Series
The Blockbuster SD40/SD40-2 Series

What Electro-Motive engineers came up with the 'Flexicoil Truck,' which as the name describes was meant to flex and give for improved riding quality while at the same time allowing higher operating speeds. This was achieved through large, steel springs and rubber domes that helped absorb operational stresses. The first type put into service was the C1 model, which had evenly spaced axles and brake cylinders mounted high on the truck. Interestingly, this original design remained cataloged by EMD through its early SD40 series on models that were equipped with clasp brakes. From a visual standpoint it did not look entirely different from a two-axle Blomberg. However, the easiest way to identify the two is the noticeable arched frame of a Blomberg which the Flexicoil does not have. Other models to sport C1s included the SD9, SD35, SD18, SD24, SD/P28, and SD/P35.

Three variants of the original design was the C1L (low-mounted brake cylinders), the C1H (a rebuilt C1 that used only one brake shoe per wheel), and the C1M (another modification of the C1 using single brake shoes and four cylinders mounted high). A new version of the Flexicoil Truck began appearing during early 1965 when EMD tested the C2L on a demonstrator SD45 during February of that year. This model also started appearing on late production SD35s as well as early SD40s. There were several variants of this truck built over the years including the C2HL, C2H, C2C, and C2HC which could be found on virtually all of EMD's second-generation models including the highly successful SD40-2. One notable export version that was used domestically was the lightweight XLC equipped on some of the Milwaukee Road's SDL39s (a road-switcher with a small fuel tank for branch line duties).

Flexi Dealer Locator

The development of trucks, at least within Electro-Motive's catalog was an interesting phenomenon over the years. While EMD's various locomotives came in predominantly standard designs the trucks they were equipped with could widely vary, as noted by the many types above (railroads could even chose to reuse old trucks, say ARR Type Bs from Alcos, to save money if they wished). Additionally, some lines chose to have their particular order equipped with a truck that was not standard within EMD's catalog for that model. In other cases clasp brakes would be requested instead of brake cylinders. In any event, one must have a detailed working knowledge of the Flexicoil to pinpoint exactly which variant a particular locomotive carries.

EMD's switcher line for many years used a standard AAR truck beginning with the earliest NW, SC, SW, and other models to the later SW7, SW9, and SW900. When the SW1200 was cataloged in 1954 it came standard with AARs but EMD offered a four-axle, Flexicoil as an extra-option to give the locomotive better versatility for use in road service. Since the switcher remained in production until the 1960s Flexicoils became more and more common by that time. This was also the case with the SW1500, MP15 series, and other switcher variants EMD offered from the late 1960s until the builder stopped producing switchers in the late 1980s (AARs, though, can still be found on many late production SW1500s). For more information about EMD's popular Blomberg truck please click here.

For more reading on EMD locomotives consider the book EMD Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. The book highlights the history of EMD from its earliest beginnings in the 1920s, to its phenomenal successes in the mid-20th century, and finally its decline into second spot behind General Electric in the late 20th century and eventual sale by General Motors in 2005. The book features 176 pages of EMD history and is filled with excellent photography and illustrations. Another good title regarding trucks and identifying diesel models is Gerald Foster's A Field Guide To Trains, which provides information on how to ID different designs from the earliest FT through those released into the 1990s. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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The Flexi range of articulated forklift trucks are the most efficient on the market

The Flexi has been developed specifically to improve storage handling as well as aiding customer order assembly efficiency across manufacturing and logistics. The space-saving potential is demonstrated in the specification data is based on ISO/Euro pallets 1.2 metres deep into the racks, pallet to pallet aisle width.

2017 Isuzu Nhr Flexi Truck 10x10

• The Flexi Digital range of VNA reach trucks is supplied with the industry-leading Zapi AC controller and motor technology package for ultra-reliability and low maintenance.
• The Flexi Digital has the best operator visibility on the market with its exclusive ‘HiVIS’ twin post overhead safety guard (CE/EU) and unique four-cylinder ‘VISION’ triplex lift mast both of which are registered designs and greatly add to its popularity with operators.
• The unique ‘True™ Radius’ design of the Flexi chassis means there is no outer radius when turning, this eliminates ‘in aisle’ product or pallet rack damage, again a registered design.
• Cast steel side weights and steel plate rear panel protect the Flexi chassis from accidental damage even in tough warehouse applications.
• The Flexi AC ‘Over Rotation’ feature with up to 230 degrees of articulation means the Flexi driver is able to enter the pallet safely and more quickly on the ‘First Turn’ than any competing models.
• Energy-saving independent power steering motor and ‘whisper’ pump on the Flexi range provides safe predictable steering even when using hydraulic functions, competitors run steering off the large hydraulic lift motor to save cost at the expense of battery energy use and steering control not ideal in very narrow aisles and lift height up to 14 metres.
• The Flexi has three independent braking systems, Digital AC regen motor braking for wear-free service braking and flyback current to the battery, foot pedal operated hydraulic drum brakes for emergency braking, handbrake applied drum brakes for safe parking even on inclines.
• The ‘True™ Radius’ and 220º articulation features eliminate product and pallet rack damage associated with other warehouse trucks, and can reduce the minimum stacking aisle down to 1.6m (ISO pallet 1.0m deep)
• One drive motor rather than two for lower maintenance costs, and reduced battery energy consumption
• Rear-axle width can be specified to suit operating aisle width, increased optimum safe travel speed in both forward and reverse directions
• Traction Battery rear-mounted, low centre of gravity, higher lift heights more capacity possible
• Lift out battery cassette with fork pockets for easy changing, fast, safe multi-shift lift operations
• Straight-line dynamic stability when travelling in reverse, eliminates snaking effect of back wheel motors designs
• No electrical components under the battery, additional forklift not required to access drive components when servicing the truck
• Our customers need the Flexi articulated warehouse truck to operate on concrete loading bays in the yard. The Twin Front Wheel Drive axle works exceptionally well in these conditions. Better outdoor working compared with Reach Truck, Flexi has elastic rubber tyres rather than hard polyurethane wheels. Flexi does not require outbound rear stabilisers like many reach trucks, these, of course, make outside yard very difficult.
• The long-term high resale value of the Flexi articulated truck makes it the best investment in the market. It’s proven reliability, low cost of service and low parts prices all contribute to this fact.
• The automotive-style seating position and steering allows the driver to face forwards and drive like an automobile.
• When stacking a load, the mast moves left or right into his line of sight to give unobstructed visibility of the forks and load.
• The Flexi truck design eliminates the need to lift over Reach Truck legs (400mm high) at the ground level, saving more than 500mm of vertical stacking space being wasted.
• The narrower Flexi chassis design allows unguided travel in very narrow aisles (VNA) safely at full travel speed.
• The Flexi AC truck twin front-wheel-drive design with high quality differential drive axle is proven to be robust and reliable long-term.
• The powerful AC motor powers both front wheels smoothly and safely at all times.
• Large diameter, finger treaded MC20 Continental elastic rubber tyres on all four wheels, provide a smooth ride over most yard surfaces.
• Tilting mast with twin low-level hydraulic cylinders, for safe, smooth high-level stacking. Cylinder seals protected from ingress of dust.
• You save wasted aisle space and achieve more storage density compared to a conventional Reach Truck, therefore reducing the cost per pallet stored by more than 25%.
• No ‘reach legs’ eliminates wasted space above the ground floor load and the first rack beam level, this alone improves pallet storage capacity by a minimum of 5% compared to traditional reach trucks.
• VNA operation eliminates the cost of steel guide rails or inductive wire guidance system required with Man Down or Man Up very narrow lateral stacking reach trucks. These guided VNA trucks also require costly 'super-flat' floors to operate safely.