Forklifts


If you're thinking of buying a forklift for your business, you'll want to make sure you get the right one for the job you will be using it for. The purpose of investing in a forklift, after all, is to run your business more efficiently--and buying the wrong equipment would be a waste of your precious resources!





Among the factors you need to consider when buying a forklift:

* Load Capacity: Take into account the size and weight of your typical loads. Forklifts on the market start at a capacity of about 3,000 lbs., but are available with a capacity of up to several tons. If you are sure that the weight of your pallets won't change later (for example, as your business grows), it's fine to purchase a forklift with a lesser capacity, but you should take into consideration your future needs.

* Lifting Height: It's also important to consider how high you will need to lift your loads. Is most of your work loading trucks? If so, height won't be much of a factor in your decision. However, if you need to reach shelves that are 25 feet in the air, shop for forklifts with a higher lifting capability.

* Location of use: Will you be using your forklift indoors or outdoors? Or will there be a combination of both? If you'll be using your forklift indoors only, an electric forklift works well, and has a lower cost of use per hour. However, if you'll be using your equipment outdoors on a regular basis (or if your loads are especially large), a forklift fueled by internal combustion (IC) is a better choice. This equipment runs using a type of fuel--sometimes diesel fuel, sometimes liquid propane--and is better suited for hard work and harsher conditions.

Once you've considered all of these factors, you can come up with the class of forklift you need. Forklifts are rated in five classes, from I-VII:

* Class I: Electric, with limited capacity.
* Class II: Electric, generally for stock, inventory, and order picking.
* Class III: Electric, standing rider or walk behind models such as automated pallet lifts.
* Class IV: Internal combustion models; generally rider trucks, with cabs and seated controls.
* Class V: Include all of the features of the Class IV models, but with higher weight and height capacity; generally used outdoors.
* Class VI: Either electric or IC, these are ride-on units designed primarily to tow, rather than to lift.
* Class VII: Rough terrain forklifts, usually with diesel engines and used outdoors.

It's smart to sit down and consider all of your current and future needs before you talk to dealers or contact major forklift manufacturers. Make a checklist of everything you already know about your business, what you need to know about forklifts before you buy, as well as how you expect your business to benefit from the use of a forklift. More than likely, you know the time has come to add some equipment to the mix--you just need to know exactly which forklift to buy!



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