How to find a forklift truck
Locating the perfect forklift on your business is not at all times easy. Understanding what you'll need, and why, is essential.
That is why we’ve designed a simple product filtering tool that may help you select forklifts that are great for your particular operational needs.
Just select a few answers in the fill-in fields to find the best equipment to suit your needs!
Nonetheless, allow me to share seven criteria that may help you to decide on the perfect forklift that can meet your operational needs:
Workplace
Will the forklift work indoors, outdoors or both?
Outdoors
Restrictions for most countries imply that Diesel trucks is only able to be used outside.
Counterbalanced forklift trucks usually are recommended outdoors, often in a four-wheel configuration since this could be more comfortable for the driver and so increase productivity.
Indoors
If you are looking at indoor applications, electric or manual forklift trucks tend to be the most suitable choice.
Warehouse equipment such as reach trucks, pallet trucks and stackers are intended for indoor work, and aren't usually recommended for external use this can wheel type and limited ground clearance.
Mixed use
To get a mix of indoor and outdoor use, three and four-wheel electric counterbalanced trucks will tend to be the most suitable choice.
Always maintain the size of the running area in your mind. Stand-on trucks will be more suitable for narrow working areas. In case you have lots of space, consider an electric or IC (internal combustion) truck.
Source of energy
The alternatives of forklift source of energy are manual, electric, Diesel or LPG.
Which of these is best is dependent upon where your forklift trucks are employed, the distances they need to travel, the level of use, the working environment and the loads they are going to carry.
Abbreviated distances transporting low weights and for occasional use, a handbook forklift may also be best. For heavier work, outside and inside, an 80-volt electric or IC truck will be the answer.
Intensity of use
Will truck use be low, average or high?
The intensity of use will assist to decide whether forklift trucks should be manual, electric or internal combustion (IC), and will also choose what degree of performance you will need.
For low intensity use, manual and small pedestrian electric trucks in many cases are suitable. In average use situations, light to medium electric trucks will do. For heavy use applications, the ideal option would be an 80-volt electric or IC truck.
Operation
In operational terms, you do have a choice of manual, seated or stand-on forklift trucks.
Which of those you'll need is determined by the concentration of use, space to manoeuvre and drive distance.
If the forklift will probably be handling light weights and used occasionally, then this manual/pedestrian option will be fine.
For average drive distances and areas with small space, a stand-on truck would usually be best.
If you are coping with longer distances in locations there exists extra space to manoeuvre, a three or four-wheel electric or IC truck could be the answer. The IC option is acceptable only and then there is plenty ventilation, or maybe if the truck has been used outdoors.
Also think regarding how often the truck operator should leave the vehicle. If the driver leaves the vehicle often, a stand-on truck could be more practical and ergonomic. If your operator needs to exit a power forklift truck 50 times per day, the constant entering and exiting will put a strain on ligaments, joints and muscles.
Driving distance
Understanding how far each forklift truck will have to travel every day is essential:
In short distances, think about pedestrian pallet truck or stacker.
For medium distances, a stand-on truck or one which has a foldable platform that could do both may be best.
For very long distances, you will require sit back appliances can cover ground quicker and are made for this use.
Maximum lift height
It’s important to have in mind the heights in most areas that this forklifts will probably be operating, including any doorways, entrance areas or storage spaces where they need to be used.
You also have to take into account the heights that you might want trucks to arrive at to. This will likely decide if horizontal transport, a pedestrian or stand-on pallet truck is best. If lift heights are around three or four metres along with the usage intensity is fixed, a stacker will be fine.
For greater heights, a counterbalanced truck or reach truck should be, with regards to the aisle widths available and whether it be working indoors or out. For applications over six or seven metres, you need a reach truck.
Load weight
For no-lift, short distance operations where loads will almost always be below 1000kg, a hand pallet truck might be recommended.
For lifting, longer distance or more load bearing requirements, you need to look at motorised models. For heavier loads, a better performance truck will likely be needed.
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