DARE!! measures Mitsubishi forklift

Why is EMC becoming more important?

The development of products is going fast, the same is happening with forklifts.
The requirements of the customers are becoming heavier and the functionality becomes more important too. In the past, mechanical and hydraulic components were most important. Nowadays, electric components are taking over. With this development the risk that an EMC interference appears in electronics becomes bigger. This can cause dangerous situations with the forklift. That’s why MCFE pays so much attention to EMC tests, and they are a frequently seen guest at DARE!! Consultancy.

How to handle forklifts?

To perform the prescribed EMC tests according to the standard EN12895 on a forklift, strict requirements apply to the needed EMC test facilities. The average size of a forklift is significant and the dimensions of the anechoic room have to be relatively bigger. The electric driven forklifts are equipped with batteries and the weight can be more than 9.000kg. Besides the needed size, the anechoic room needs to be resistant to a high floor load. With fuel-powered forklifts another problem comes into play, the exhaust gasses. For this the anechoic room is equipped with an extraction system.

Operational modes

The emission and immunity performance of the forklift is tested in different ‘modes of operation’. That means that the situations that are simulated to match reality. This way the radiated emission, the high frequent radiation from the forklift, is tested in a frequency area from 30 MHz to 1 GHz, whereby the forklift is set to different speeds (for example standing still and 5 km/h) and the hydraulic pressure is increased (20% and 70%). During the immunity tests (sensitivity for influences from the outside) the readout of the speedometer and the load indicator need to be checked. Due to the large size of the forklift, the tests need to be performed on several sides of the forklift.
In short, there are lots of things that have to be taken in consideration while testing these kind of objects!

Experience of MCFE B.V.

By Chris Liquorish (Senior Test Engineer) at MCFE B.V. in Almere:

When did you get in contact with DARE!!?

‘In 1995 EMC regulation came into force for forklift truck at with that were forced to find a company who could actually perform the testing, after much searching we got in contact with DARE!! Consultancy. At that time all testing was being done on site at our premises. From around 1997 we have been dealing with DARE!! Consultancy for all of our EMC testing, more recently also calibration of all electrical test equipment are done at DARE!! Calibrations’.
What were the main reasons to work with DARE!!?

‘After many years of testing in DA.R.E!! Consultancy the professionalism of the people conducting the testing has always been at its highest. Everyone is open and willing to learn and also most important, always if there is a problem, help to find a solution. This can sometime take many hours or days, which is greatly appreciated’.

You can find more information about Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Europe here.