How to choose the right pallet truck for the job
Choosing the right equipment is important
Transporting heavy and awkward materials is a real challenge in any environment. Minimizing downtime, preventing injuries, and handling large volumes of materials can become overwhelming without the right equipment. Efficiency is often dictated by the quality of the handling equipment in use. However, in many situations, the use of inadequate, outdated or incorrect material handling equipment causes productivity to fail under heavy loads.
Handling any material with inadequate equipment can be unsafe, time consuming and can reduce profits as a result. Most material handling equipment is designed for general material handling needs. Choosing the right equipment for your application can mean the difference between being productive and wasting time and money. The most important thing you save is your health, trying to move heavy things without the proper equipment is one of the main causes of back injuries at work.
What do you have to move?
Determining better ways to handle pallet loads in your warehouse is essential to achieving maximum efficiency.
The type of materials being handled in your warehouse and how you want to handle them should always be crucial factors when investing in any type of equipment.
For example, Eagle 55 pallet trucks have an ergonomically shaped handle and lever that provide comfortable operation while moving heavy loads at a very affordable price.
In smaller warehouses, the Sidewinder pallet truck provides improved maneuverability with the ability to move backwards, forwards, left and right. The sidewinder has the ability to move long loads down narrow aisles and turn quickly while handling loads up to 3,000 lbs.
Make work safer for employees
Lift and tilt trucks offer a more comfortable working position to provide a safer warehouse environment for employees who perform repetitive tasks that make them prone to injury due to continual bending and reaching. For added ease in handling pallet loads, there are several types of electric jacks, lifters and tilters available.
For warehouses that handle a variety of pallet sizes, use multi-function pallet trucks such as adjustable fork trucks or a low-profile design.
Do you need to move pallets out of a warehouse?
For non-indoor material handling jobs, it’s important to find a pallet truck that’s ideal for a tough environment.
All terrain pallet trucks are ideal for construction sites, lumber yards, nurseries or any other rough and uneven surface. These trucks feature air-filled pneumatic tires specifically for outdoor use.
Do you have to lift your pallets even higher?
Depending on your height requirements, a stacker may be the best option. Stackers come in a variety of different lift heights and weight capacities; Manual, self-propelled and counterbalanced models have an electric hydraulic lifting mechanism. There are also manual winch models to suit your needs.
It is essential to determine if a pallet load is more suitable for a manual, self-propelled, hydraulic or winch stacker model.
Whether in a warehouse, a delivery, shipping and receiving center or even in trucking applications, pallet trucks are an indispensable tool. Using one to move heavy or bulky loads isn’t difficult and will keep you from getting hurt.
It’s your move!