What to look for in an electric forklift
Without doubt the biggest innovations and improvements in the last 20 years in materials handling have been in the electric equipment industry. While LPG and diesel forklifts remain a mainstay in factories and loading facilities Australia and world-wide, electric lift equipment has increasingly become a mainstream choice. But to many people, even industry insiders with extensive experience, electric forklifts remain a mystery. We’ll try to explain here what to look for when purchasing, what sort of equipment to buy to meet your needs and the common pitfalls to avoid.
What is important to remember is that the right forklift for you is the one that does the job you need, reliably and at a minimum of expense. For 90% of buyers this will be a general purpose, LPG powered forklift with a capacity of 1.5 to 3 tonnes. These are the most common types of units available in Australia, and with good reason. Think of them like a Holden Commodore, reliable and flexible, able to be used in a wide variety of applications. But by no means are they the only type of units available.
Forklifts are (generally) driven by internal combustion or electric engines. These engines power a large hydraulic pump, which pumps oil to the lift and tilt valves which control the mechanisms of the same name on the mast of the forklift. Because of the design of the hydraulic system, the ability to add several additional valves exists. These valves can tap into the existing power of the forklift and use it’s existing power to drive other functions, usually related to modifications or additions to the tilt or raise mechanism to enable more specific applications. Examples include sideshifts, rotators, bale clamps and fork positioners.
When purchasing a used forklift, many buyers worry about getting stuck with a lemon. It’s unfamiliar territory, nearly everyone knows what to look for in a car, but what about a forklift? It’s an expensive purchase that you need to be reliable for years to come. The following is a basic checklist you should look for when shopping for a used forklift.
