1. Operating environment
This is the first consideration when purchasing a forklift, whether it is outdoor or indoor operation. If the forklift is used outside the warehouse, choose an internal combustion engine forklift driven by gas, liquid petroleum or diesel; if the forklift mainly works in the cold environment outdoors, then the gasoline-driven forklift is the most reasonable choice. It is worth noting that the diesel forklift should always be kept in use, and the engine cannot always be turned off; if the user starts the forklift every few minutes, it will damage the forklift; in addition, it is recommended that the diesel forklift should be changed regularly.
Another type of forklift is mainly designed for outdoor operation, driven by liquid petroleum-also known as LP, and competes with gasoline-fueled forklifts for the market. The LP forklift is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use because its exhaust is less toxic than gasoline. LP forklifts and diesel forklifts have almost the same fuel costs, but diesel forklifts have lower maintenance costs. In cold use conditions, users sometimes equip LP forklifts with protective covers or heaters; if this does not guarantee the normal operation of the forklift, it is also easy to convert the LP forklift into a gasoline forklift.
The outdoor environment not only determines the choice of internal combustion engine, but also has requirements for the type of tires used. Pneumatic tires are suitable for rugged ground; non-pneumatic tires are suitable for flat and hard ground outdoors and most indoor occasions.
2. Indoor storage forklift
For indoor handling, such as in a warehouse, electric forklifts have more advantages. Compared with internal combustion forklifts, its main advantages are low noise and no pollution. Although the price of electric forklifts is higher than that of internal combustion forklifts, the operating costs are lower. Electric forklifts save money mainly because there is no need for fuel, and there is no need to change oil and parts such as plugs and sockets. The maintenance cost of an electric forklift is only 2 to 6 yuan per hour for a normal life cycle (a forklift runs one shift per day and uses approximately 1700 hours per year). When using an electric forklift, you must always pay attention to the battery condition, check the water level, and avoid the battery from drying out.
3. Choose the forklift model
The most important factor in choosing a forklift is to consider its application and the actual situation in the warehouse. If the forklift is used to load and unload trailers, then the front-wheel drive and seat-mounted counterbalanced forklift are more suitable. If the forklift is used to load and unload cargo to the trailer, a factor to be considered is the "free lift" problem, that is, the fork can be raised without raising the mast. The width of the warehouse aisle is another problem to be considered when choosing a forklift. A three-wheeled forklift requires a 10ft (1ft = 0.304? 8m) wide aisle, and a four-wheel forklift requires more space, which is 12 to 13ft wide Alleyway. In narrower roadways, users prefer forward-moving forklifts, which are equipped with outriggers for retracting pallets and can be operated in about 8ft wide roadways.
4. Capacity
Factors that must be considered when purchasing a forklift. It is recommended to buy a forklift with a larger capacity than usual. If the load of the pallet to be handled by the forklift is 900KG, it is more appropriate to choose a forklift with a capacity of 1300KG. When buying a forklift that transports flammable or dangerous materials, the user must check their safety, etc.
level. If the forklift truck is marked with the E mark, a fire may occur; if the forklift truck is marked with the EE mark, it is equipped with more safety devices; the safest level is EX, indicating that such forklift trucks do not have metal parts that cause fire. In short, diesel forklifts are safer than EX-class forklifts. Diesel forklifts designed for safety are marked with the DX logo.
5. Price PK efficiency
Forklift price is only one factor, the ability of spare parts and maintenance services is as important as the vehicle price itself. Users are advised to consider the entire cost of the forklift's "lifetime", not just the purchase price.
Most experts are against buying second-hand forklifts unless they are used for auxiliary work. If users only need one forklift, they can buy a second-hand forklift, but they must confirm the quality,
Therefore, users should consider the efficiency of forklifts, the support of manufacturers, and the number of forklifts required in the future. For savvy users, both long-term and short-term benefits should be considered.
