"How small a turn it can make" is also a major factor in determining the choice of reach vehicles. By being able to turn easily, it is possible to narrow the aisle width and improve the efficiency of storing luggage, or if the aisle width does not change, there is more room to turn, which leads to improved safety.
Sumitomo's patented Aisle Width Control (AWC) technology allows one-touch selection of "loading mode," which minimizes aisle width for right-angle stacking, and "turning mode," which minimizes turning radius when turning on the spot or making U-turns.
In "loading mode," the optimum steering angle and turning center are automatically adjusted to minimize the right-angle stacking aisle width. This means that the operator can turn with the smallest right-angle stacking aisle width simply by turning the steering wheel to the steering end without having to worry about the optimum steering angle.