Raymond focuses on advanced energy solutions in new Kirkwood facility

KIRKWOOD — The Raymond Corporation will use its building at 196 Corporate Drive in Kirkwood, purchased earlier this year, as an advanced manufacturing facility for energy solutions as it works to continue to improve and innovate its electric materials-handling trucks. “It’s a culmination of many years’ worth of work,” Jennifer Lupo, Raymond’s VP of energy solutions, supply chain, and leasing, tells CNYBJ. The advanced manufacturing facility will work closely Toyota Material Handling North America’s (TMHNA) advanced energy-storage solutions development, prototyping and test center near Rochester. Raymond is a TMHNA company. “This will allow us to transition technology from ideation to commercialization,” Lupo notes. In other words, the Rochester center can dream up the ideas, and the Kirkwood facility can turn it into reality — at least when it comes to energy technology for powering the trucks. The focus is on lithium-ion batteries as well as TPPL, which is a next-generation lead-acid battery solution. The goal is to create a smaller yet more efficient power source for the trucks, which Raymond’s customers rely on to move goods in their warehouses and distribution centers. While Raymond’s trucks have been electric for about 70 years, the current lead-acid batteries are bulky and heavy, Lupo says. They must be removed from the trucks to charge, which means customers need to own several of them if they want to keep the trucks running. They just aren’t as efficient as today’s operations need them to be. “When you’re talking about lithium, many of those things go away,” Lupo says. Lithium-ion batteries are smaller, which opens up new truck design options, she says. The lithium-ion batteries can also be charged on demand because they don’t need to be removed. An operator can plug the truck in during lunch break, ensuring it’s fully charged for the rest of the shift, Lupo says.

To scale up the advanced-manufacturing center, Raymond transferred some employees from its Greene headquarters and has plans to hire more, Lupo says. “We are excited to welcome The Raymond Corporation to Broome County and are grateful for their decision to expand here, bringing new jobs, cutting-edge technology, and a boost to our local economy,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in a news release issued by The Agency. “Raymond’s expansion is a strong vote of confidence in our community, and we look forward to support their growth and success for years to come.” Raymond is proud to be part of the region’s battery technology hub and clean energy tech corridor, Lupo says. “For us, it’s very exciting to be in a position to support that narrative.” Electric is the future, she says, whether people are ready for it or not. “For 70 years, we’ve been electric,” she says. “I think it’s time for people to understand this is not an if from us, it’s a when.” Raymond will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility on Sept. 9. Headquartered in Greene, Raymond is a member of the Toyota Industries family of companies. It delivers solutions to material handling and logistics with material-handling products and intralogistics solutions.