How to choose the right forklift for your warehouse

Logistics in the modern economy is gaining more and more importance for commodity relationships. Warehouse logistics is an important component of this chain, in which there is no way to do without specialized equipment, including a forklift for the warehouse. Choosing a loader should be approached with an understanding of many factors. We recommend starting with an analysis of warehouse needs:

• carrying capacity;
• dimensions when working in warehouses - lifting height, width and height of passages between racks;
• type of covering inside the room;
• parameters and types of cargo;
• intensity of loading and unloading operations;
• duration of work shift.

Important conditions when choosing a forklift are maintainability, working conditions (loading trestle, platform, warehouse), outdoor covering (asphalt, concrete slabs, gravel), sanitary conditions (availability of ventilation).

Types of forklifts

There are several types of forklifts. The characteristics of each of them determine how to choose a forklift :

1. Electric - the main advantage is that the loader does not emit exhaust gases, so it is suitable for work in closed rooms. Such a loader is indispensable for warehouses with food products and pharmaceutical products. However, such loaders are not always suitable for working outdoors.
2. Diesel - the forklift is designed to work exclusively on open areas, since the use of diesel fuel involves exhaust. However, it is indispensable when moving heavy loads over long distances.
3. Gas is a kind of ecological replacement for diesel models due to the cleaner content of engine emissions. Therefore, it is important to know which ventilation system the warehouse is equipped with: if it is powerful enough, then short-term operation of such a loader indoors is permissible. There is only one caveat: to refuel such a loader, you should dismantle the gas cylinder every time, which is filled at a specialized gas station.

Thus, the efficiency of its operation, the term of high-quality work and, accordingly, the profit of the logistics company depends on how competently the choice of the loader is made.

In addition, the operator's work productivity depends on ergonomics - the comfort of the cabin, the convenient location of the control panel, the smoothness of the movement and operation of the lifting device, maneuverability, the level of noise and vibration during operation. All this in the complex reduces operating costs, which also affects the company's income.

Key characteristics when choosing a forklift

Decisions about how to choose a forklift should be based on the following factors:

• the type of loader that is suitable for your warehouse;
• loader performance and its multifunctionality;
• dimensions of the loader and its turning radius;
• inspection period;
• safety conditions for the operator, including cabin comfort;
• environmental friendliness;
• warranty period and service. 

Of course, you have to pay for each technical solution, for example, the installation of a carriage for the lateral displacement of the forks or the presence of hydraulic thyristor control elements that make the loader work efficiently and safely. Therefore, when deciding which loaders are better , we advise you, together with professional consultants, to look for a reasonable combination of the desired characteristics of the equipment and its cost.

Advice on buying a forklift

We recommend that you pay attention to some aspects that form the criteria for which forklift is better :

1. The carrying capacity determines the maximum weight of the cargo to be moved.
2. The speed of movement and lifting - the overall efficiency of loading and unloading operations depends on it.
3. Lift height is important when the forklift is working with storage racks - the lift height should not be less than the height of the topmost storage tier.
4. Automatic adjustment of the tilt of the forks and an active stabilization system, which depend on the safety of work in the warehouse.

When choosing a forklift , make sure that the equipment is certified and complies with safety standards. By the way, the new generation of forklifts has already received a lot of updates aimed specifically at increasing the comfort of the operator and ensuring the stability of this equipment.