A guide to choosing the right forklift for your business

Choosing the proper forklift for your business can improve productivity and keep your operational costs down. On the other hand, the wrong type of forklift can dampen employee morale as they try to complete their job with inadequate equipment. Most importantly, it can impact the health and safety of your workers. All of these significant factors highlight the importance of choosing the right forklift for the right job for your business. To help you in your research, we’ve created a forklift selection guide below.
 

The Different Types of Forklifts 

The first part of a new forklift sales and service process includes being aware of the different types of forklifts available, what they’re used for, and what kind of tasks they’re designed to do efficiently. Some of the most common types of forklifts are:
 

• Industrial forklifts: Industrial forklifts are designed to handle heavy loads up to 30,000lbs and combine the power of a vehicle and a lifting tool. These heavy-duty forklifts are typically used at construction sites to carry building materials across rough terrain.
• Warehouse forklifts: This is the most common and well-known type of forklifts used in facilities that store large volumes of inventory. The front twin forks are perfect for loading and unloading pallets and transporting goods from delivery trucks. Warehouse forklifts come in differing capacity limits from 5,000lbs up to 25,000lbs. 
• 3-wheel counterbalance forklifts: These forklifts are ideal for tight spaces as they have a smaller turning radius than 4-wheel models. 3-wheel forklifts have a counterbalance that allows for smooth navigational control and easy access through narrow aisles. 
• 4-wheel forklifts: 4-wheel forklifts have better stability and are designed for uneven surfaces. They can also handle heavier loads than a 3-wheel forklift. They’re ideal for operations with open spaces that don’t require maneuvering through tight areas.
• Reach forklifts: Reach forklifts are specifically designed for warehouse environments and come in two forms - moving mast and pantograph. These forklifts can reach great heights while offering excellent maneuverability in tight corners. Moving mast reach trucks move horizontally to allow operators to reach loads without having to move the forklift base. A pantograph reach truck involves a scissor design reach mechanism that extends the forks forward and away from the mast.
• Hand pallet trucks: These manual pallet trucks involve the use of a hydraulic jack to lift a pallet load at ground level. Also known as pallet jacks, this type of forklift is not meant to lift loads at high heights or operate on uneven surfaces. They are compact, easy to use, and are typically offered at a low cost.
• Narrow aisle forklifts: As the name implies, these forklifts are specifically designed for narrow warehouse aisles.
• Order pickers: Also known as cherry pickers, these forklifts simplify the order picking process. They raise or lower operators to the level that the goods are located. 

 

Factors to consider when choosing a forklift for your business

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, the right forklift should keep your operational costs down and help your team remain productive. Consider:
 

• The environment your business operates in, including the floor surface, indoor or outdoor conditions, and how many hours the forklift will be used. 
• Whether you want an electric forklift, which costs more upfront compared to an IC (internal combustion) forklift but will save you more money in the long run.
• The load type, size, and maximum capacity that you need. Record the average load weight and know the heaviest load you’ll need to lift. 
• Height restrictions such as ceiling beams or low-hanging lights. What is your typical lift height and the highest point that you’ll need to reach?

With the many makes and models of forklifts available, the good news is, you’ll be able to find one designed specifically for your application with the help of a Brandt Material Handling Sales Representative.