How to find a forklift truck
Finding the perfect forklift to your customers are not always easy. Knowing what you may need, and why, is important.
That is why we’ve made a simple product filtering tool that will help select forklifts that are great for your particular operational needs.
Just go with a few answers from the fill-in fields to get the best equipment in your case!
Nonetheless, listed here are seven criteria that may help you to find the perfect forklift that can meet your operational needs:
Workplace
Will the forklift work indoors, outdoors or both?
Outdoors
Restrictions generally in most countries mean that Diesel trucks could only supply outside.
Counterbalanced forklift trucks are usually recommended outdoors, often in the four-wheel configuration simply because this could be more comfortable to the driver and for that reason increase productivity.
Indoors
Should you be looking at indoor applications, electric or manual forklift trucks tend to be the most suitable choice.
Warehouse equipment for example reach trucks, pallet trucks and stackers are intended for indoor work, and aren't usually recommended for external use because of their wheel type and limited ground clearance.
Mixed use
For a mix of indoor and outdoor use, three and four-wheel electric counterbalanced trucks are usually the best option.
Always maintain the dimensions of the working area in your mind. Stand-on trucks tend to be more suited to narrow working areas. When you have more than enough room, consider an electric or IC (car) truck.
Power supply
The options of forklift power supply are manual, electric, Diesel or LPG.
Which more likely to be best is determined by where your forklift trucks are used, the distances they need to travel, the concentration of use, the significant environment along with the loads they're going to carry.
For short distances transporting low weights and for occasional use, a handbook forklift may also be best. For heavier work, indoors and out, an 80-volt electric or IC truck could be the answer.
Concentration of use
Will truck use be low, average or high?
The level of use will assist you to decide whether forklift trucks needs to be manual, electric or internal combustion (IC), and also will choose what a higher level performance you may need.
For low intensity use, manual and small pedestrian electric trucks will often be suitable. In average use situations, light to medium electric trucks will perform. For heavy use applications, the best option would be an 80-volt electric or IC truck.
Operation
In operational terms, you've got a choice of manual, seated or stand-on forklift trucks.
Which of the you will need is dependent upon the power of use, space to manoeuvre and drive distance.
If your forklift will likely be handling light weights and used occasionally, then a manual/pedestrian option will be fine.
For average drive distances and areas with short space, a stand-on truck would usually be best.
Should you be dealing with longer distances in places where there is certainly more space to manoeuvre, a 3 or four-wheel electric or IC truck will be the answer. The IC option would be acceptable only high is sufficient ventilation, or if the truck is being used outdoors.
Think regarding how the truck operator has to leave the automobile. When the driver leaves the vehicle often, a stand-on truck will be more practical and ergonomic. In the event the operator needs to exit an electric powered forklift truck 50 times every day, the constant entering and exiting will place a stress on ligaments, muscles and joints.
Driving distance
Understanding how far each forklift truck should travel on a daily basis is important:
In short distances, think about a pedestrian pallet truck or stacker.
For medium distances, a stand-on truck a treadmill with a foldable platform that can do both may be best.
For very long distances, you will require sit back appliances can cover ground more rapidly and they are made for this use.
Maximum lift height
It’s vital to have in mind the heights in most areas how the forklifts will likely be operating, including any doorways, entrance areas or storage spaces where they should be used.
Additionally you have to consider the heights which you will want trucks to reach to. This will likely evaluate if horizontal transport, a pedestrian or stand-on pallet truck is the most suitable. If lift heights are up to three or four metres as well as the usage intensity is restricted, a stacker would be fine.
For greater heights, a counterbalanced truck or reach truck would be better, based on the aisle widths available and be it 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 can be below 1000kg, support pallet truck will probably be recommended.
For lifting, longer distance or older load bearing requirements, you simply must take a look at motorised models. For heavier loads, a better performance truck will be needed.
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