As the owner of a manufacturing or storage warehouse, you are probably aware of the benefits of having a forklift for your use. A forklift is an industrial truck used to move heavy materials over short distances. These distances may be the inside or outside of a warehouse or any rugged terrain. The weight supported by the forklift can vary from 5 tons to 50 tons.Generally the heavier forklifts are used in shipping dockyards to move heavy containers, while the lighter ones are used in manufacturing and storage warehouses.With today’s advancement in technology, many new developments have been made in the production of forklifts. New ideas have been implemented to increase safety measures, increase carrying capacity, reduce chances of accidents or fallen goods, improve operator comfort, optimize fuel consumption, etc.
Points to Remember
Before going in for a purchase of a forklift, consider the following facts. Will you need your forklift regularly? Consider the cost of buying one, the fuel and maintenance costs and balance it against the usage of the forklift. If you are buying it, say, for a warehouse, chances are you will need it almost daily and so buying a forklift makes good sense.Do you need a new truck or will a used one suffice? Many firms like All lift of Georgia Inc., sell or rent out used forklifts in Atlanta. Such companies buy out used forklifts from others and recondition them for resale. They also offer a 90 day warranty on such trucks.
You may also wish to buy spare parts for any vehicles you may own or new or used attachments for forklifts here. You can speak to a sales representative to determine what model and capacity you will need. You can also take advantage of the demo offer which will provide a demo at your site to see the suitability of the forklift on your terrain. Keep in mind that some forklifts are better suited to a particular terrain than others.
Consider the maximum weight load you will need. Forklifts capacities can range from 5 tons to 50 tons. Another important aspect is the center of gravity. This must not be exceeded in order to prevent the truck from toppling or dropping the containers. There are many models to choose from. Some of them are pneumatic trucks, cushion trucks, electric forklifts, pallet jacks, etc. Study the model and compare what you have with what you need. Narrow aisle forklifts are very useful in storage warehouses as they don’t require a lot of space to maneuver in. Hence a larger amount of goods can be stored.
The forklift needs to be driven by an experienced operator. He should be well versed in the movements of the forklift as well as maintenance of it. Safety rules are a must and should be diligently followed. The truck should never be run at a high speed especially at turns at corners. This is because the combined force of the weight and speed may cause a disastrous accident.Attachments can be added on or replaced as necessary, while keeping in mind the limitations of weight and centre of gravity.
Author Bio:
Lary Nineham gives his vision on used forklifts Atlanta and their use on modern construction sites and warehousing facilities.
