The benefits of forklift trucks are plentiful and heavily outweigh the cons associated with these nifty pieces of machinery. Furthermore, forklift trucks offer convenience, reliability and stimulate high levels of productivity. With this in mind, this article will talk you through the general advantages of forklift trucks and how they benefit you to achieve a smooth and efficient function of your workplace operations.
Advantages Of Forklift Trucks:
Safety
To start our general list of forklift benefits we have improved safety. Before the invention of forklifts, many factories and warehouses used cables and pulleys to move heavy crates and other weighted objects. This however was a very dangerous system as the loads could quite easily cause too much tension in the cabling (causing it to snap) and could also land on employees below if not correctly fastened. As such, the invention of the forklift has meant that safety for workers has greatly increased.
Maneuverability and Load Capacity
Forklifts are one of the smallest drivable pieces of machinery out there in today’s market which makes them perfect for warehousing operations. They are compact enough to fit in relatively small areas such as racking isles and are easily manoeuvrable to turn in various directions. It is also worth noting that depending on the forklift, many can handle carrying loads of up to 35,000 pounds which is ideal when carrying large pallets around the warehouse.
Types
One of the other major benefits of forklift trucks is the various types available. The three main types of forklifts are:
- Internal combustion forklifts – are generally used for outdoor settings because they are powered by gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas or propane which would otherwise be too harmful to individuals if operated indoors.
- Electric forklifts – which are utilised indoors, powered by batteries and are less expensive to operate compared to their gas counterparts. Not to mention they are significantly quieter when in operation which reduces noise pollution around the warehouse.
- Manual forklifts – which are non-motorised pieces of equipment and are not as versatile as the other two types previously mentioned. They can only lift goods off of the ground several inches and have a low load capacity. Although cheaper, they are not as practical for warehousing settings as opposed to electric or gas powered forklifts.
The introduction of these three types of forklifts have meant that the transportation of goods in warehouses, no matter how heavy or difficult it is to move the load, has meant that warehouse efficiencies have drastically increased over time.
Human Requirement Reduced
One of the top benefits to buying a nifty piece of machinery like a forklift is that it reduces the need for multiple human activity in order to operate the machinery. Back in the day, it could have taken 3 or more people to safely move goods from a cable whereas nowadays, the transportation of goods can be done by a single person in a forklift. This can deliver one of two things. It could either reduce the labour cost needed to man the vehicle in turn saving business labour costs or alternatively, you can advise your staff to perform other important business tasks which involve human interaction such as staff training or other physical jobs like transporting the recycling into the waste bin.
Enhancement Of Productivity
As we have just mentioned, forklifts can cause a reduction in human labour to transport goods. As a result, when the requirement for human labour decreases, workplace productivity increases. It’s quite simple as you are using less resources for the same level of output (and sometimes more).
Rent / Loaning Equipment
Another suitable benefit of forklift trucks is their ability to be rented. If you are an individual or business owner that can’t afford to purchase a forklift outright, you’ll be able to find reasonably priced rentals or finance options so you can still get the job done without having to put your business into massive debt in the process. If you are considering one of our forklift finance options visit our website for more information.
Modern Day Technology Constantly Improving
Another major benefit of forklifts is that technology standards are constantly evolving. For example, we have the introduction of the new Lithium-Ion powered forklifts which are currently available today. They boast countless benefits while also being greener around the workplace. With new innovations constantly becoming a priority for many forklift manufacturers, the performance and maneuverability of such machines are constantly improving. Furthermore, the introduction of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) may be a forklift to look out for in the years to come which means there would be even less of a need for human labour to man the vehicles.
Training
The final benefit of forklift trucks is that there are suitable training programmes for any level of operator looking to start their career or enhance their skills in the warehousing and transportation industry. Training can start at a ‘novice’ level for complete beginners and will take you through everything you need to know about forklifts from scratch, to the ‘refresher’ training which will brush up on some knowledge and skills in relation to forklifts. For more information read our blog on the different types of forklift training.