Older forklifts can end up being a liability instead of an asset to a warehouse operation if they must go through costly maintenance cycles at short intervals. Protect your investment by upgrading your machine to avoid costly repairs. How do you know it is time to replace your forklift? Here are a few signs that you need to watch for:
When your Diesel/LPG forklift starts to consume more fuel than usual, chances are it has come to the end of its life. If you spend most of your operational budget on fuel, you must immediately consider replacing your forklift or the entire fleet. A good option would be to switch to an Electric Forklift, as they tend to be more economical in the long run. Another alternative is to opt for a high fuel efficiency forklift such as a CLARK or a Doosan, as most modern internal combustion forklift models have excellent fuel economy.
Endless repeat repairs are not a good sign for your forklift. Not only do you end up spending more money on frequent repairs, but you also risk the chance of the issue resurfacing, especially if it is an older forklift model. The higher the downtime on your forklift, the greater the loss on your warehouse productivity levels. Your best bet would be to cut the older forklift model loose and purchase a new or gently used forklift.
Sometimes, a forklift replacement or upgrade is needed due to a change in the business requirement or how a warehouse operates. A job site may need to start handling more substantial loads, and the current fleet of forklifts may not be able to perform at those load levels. Additionally, it is imperative to consider forklift operator safety when your load handling requirements change. As an employer or a company, it is your responsibility to provide your employees with the right equipment to do their job. An overloaded forklift can cause severe damage to the operator should something go wrong. Keeping in mind the above points, you should be able to decide if it is time to invest in a new or a pre-owned forklift for your warehouse operation. Brandt has a large inventory of new and quality used forklifts to suit your lifting requirements. Contact your local Brandt Material Handling dealership to get a free, non-obligatory quote on your next forklift.