Nowadays, there are many brands and makes of forklift and each is specially designed for different purposes. No matter what make of forklift you choose, it should meet your requirements and also the safety standards.
A good forklift should have the following properties.
- Clearly visible body color: A forklift is a dangerous vehicle and should be avoided by those who are not involved. Even those who have to be on the same site or the driver must take good care. Therefore, a good forklift must have a body with clearly visible color so that people can immediately recognize it as a forklift.
- A good control system: Apart from the clearly visible color of its body, a good forklift must have a good control system. That is to say, the steering functions well. Brakes work properly. And the operation (such as turning) works according to the control. A good control system will guarantee safety from using a forklift.
- It will be driven only by those responsible: Only the person responsible for the forklift can drive it and they must be trained to use it. They must know all rules and regulations. Besides, those who have to work with forklifts need to learn these rules and regulations.
- Regular check-up and maintenance: A good forklift must be well-maintained in order that it is ready for use at any time. Therefore, it needs to be checked regularly and it also needs to be checked before and after each use.
When we want to use a forklift, the appropriateness and the safety must come as the top priority. If we have a good forklift, we can use it effectively and meet the safety standards. Besides, the employers must be aware of logistics operation/ warehouse operation as the main reason for choosing a forklift to move goods. The main factors include
1) Environment:
The working environment of loading area plays a significant role in choosing the right forklift for use. If a forklift is to be used in a cold area where fresh food is stored and there is salt, a special kind of forklift for cold storage is required because it comes with rust-proof specifications. If a forklift is to be used in n an extreme condition, such as too much heat, too much salt or sensitivity to flame, a forklift should be chosen from a reliable manufacturer with specifications required for the conditions in the factory without any further modification. Moreover, it must be able to resist dust and moisture with the rating at IP 54 or IP 65 as a standard.
2) Size and Type of Loading Material :
A good forklift should be able to load and lift the required goods or products. If a forklift is to be used to load 2 tons of loading material with the height of over 4,000 mm., it is a good idea to choose a forklift with 2.5 or 3 tons. If the products are cylindrical such as paper rolls, special attachments would be required for loading. A good forklift must be able to attach various types of optional attachments for different types of work and it must work effectively. It must also come with decent after sales service.
3) A new forklift or a secondhand forklift: Choose the provider
If a forklift is to be used for over 4 hours/day continuously every day and loading is the heart of your business, a new forklift or a hired forklift is a good choice. If a forklift is required for a few hours per day occasionally or if it is to be used as a spare, a secondhand forklift is a reasonable choice. However, the time for long service hours should be taken into account for each service because this will help save the cost. Moreover, a good maintenance means that the forklift will work properly for a longer time without stopping for a minor fault.
How to choose a forklift provider
- Choose a reliable and experienced provider
- There should be one-stop service for fleet management with selling, hiring and managing forklifts where forklifts can be bought and exchanged. Moreover, there should be training sessions as well as tests for forklift operators as specified by the National Competence Framework.
- The provider should know and understand how to repair a forklift in a short time
- The provider should have spare parts in stock
- The provider should train and develop the skills of their employees and senior technicians regularly
- The provider should have branches or offices in each region or near the customer
- The provider should have both counterbalance forklifts and warehouse trucks in their catalogue
- Advice and suggestions should be provided to customers in order to choose the right one for the required purpose
In addition, there are many factors in considering which forklift to be chosen, such as the space for working (e.g., too narrow or too high), the type of tyre required and the type of fuel for the forklift. Entrepreneurs should consult experienced providers in order to get advice and suggestions regarding the forklift that best fit the requirements so that it is a good value for the investment.