What to Consider When Buying a Forklift?

Jul 18, 2024

Whether you are acquiring for the first time, adding to your fleet or looking for more efficient handling equipment, there are several points you should consider. A forklift represents a considerable investment which can add cost to your operation, so you want to be in a position to choose wisely, by selecting the optimal type of machine that meets your operational requirements while keeping the costs low.

In this article, we will consider the most important points.

Preparation for choosing a Forklift?

Forklifts are designed to carry out two main functions, lifting and moving. Different types of machines are designed to be better at one or the other although there are general purpose types that can do both equally as well under most circumstances and conditions. The following questions should be asked as the answers will allow you to identify the best type of machine that will meet your operational requirements:

What do I have to move and lift?
How far do I have to move it?
How high do I have to lift it?
What is the weight of the item I have to lift?
Which is the best fuel source?
Will the machine be mainly moving or lifting?
Do I want to own it or rent it?

Because there are so many types of machines that will do the job, the answers to these questions can make a considerable difference in homing in on an optimal type, saving considerable amounts of money in the process.

Other Factors to Examine Before Investing in a Forklift

There are several other factors that should be considered, and these relate to the operating environment where the machine is intended to be used

Operating Environment
You should think about whether you will be using this machine indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both. Are there inclines or ramps, is the floor even, are there any height or width restrictions in the area where the forklift will operate. Temperatures and dust levels also need to be factored into your decision.
Lifting Capacity And Lifting Height
Forklifts are essentially well engineered levers and use the lever principles to counterbalance the load weight to be lifted to a determined height. This is one of the most critical aspects in selecting a forklift truck and it has to be noted that a machine with a capacity of 1.5 tons and lifting height of 5m, might not be able to lift 1.5 tons to 5 m. In fact, it might only be able to lift 900kgs to 5m and 1.5 tons to 3.5m. It is vitally important that the machine required will safely meet your needs and that you are familiar with and aware of the limitations and safety hazards of the machine you are considering.
Passage Area
Another factor that you should focus on when making your selection is to think about your working of stacking aisle area. The machine will be required to either block stack products or place and retrieve products from an aisle. The machine has to be capable of entering the aisle and then making a 90 degree turn to face the product storage location. Likewise, often when entering and exiting the working aisle, a transfer aisle has to be used and the dimensions of the forklift will need to accommodate this transition.
There are machines that have been designed to work in a narrow aisle environment. Reach trucks, articulated forklifts and stackers are a few examples of these, but each have their benefits and limitations, and of course costs.
Fuel Type
A major consideration is the fuel type. Some types of machines, such as those that work in aisles or mainly indoors, are electric, while the general type or heavy-duty yard forklifts have been diesel powered although LPG/Petrol variants are available. Major strides in battery technology have seen the advent of electric heavy-duty machines.
Electric machines, although initially more expensive, have better payback periods due to the reduction in fuel costs. The savings can be upward of 35%, making the electric ranges more cost effective over their operating life when compared to other fuel types. Electric machines have less moving parts compared to interna combustion engine machines, which reduces maintenance costs as well as the risk of a breakdown.
Personalized Specifications
Personalised or operational requirements should also be considered, from ergonomics such as closed cabs for wet weather operation, heated cabs for cold store use, special load handling attachments, such as double/single pallet attachments and roll clamp attachments etc., are some of the specialised options you might require.

Moreover, various industries also have rules and regulations that you need to be aware of and follow when choosing a forklift.

Choosing the Most Appropriate Forklift Brand and Supplier?

Choosing your forklift supplier is just as important as choosing the right type of forklift. There are a number of options available, ranging from the manufacturers local business (direct), an authorized and factory approved national dealer, or a regional distributor or a local independent business. Each of these has a number of benefits and drawbacks, ranging from service levels, guarantees, warranties, response times, parts availability and so on.

Cost
Cost and your budget are major considerations and an important part of choosing a forklift. As with any product, there are a number of options which will perform the task but at different price points. An affordable machine might at first, seem enticing, but affordable might be costly in the long term. Likewise, given the advancements in manufacturing technology around the world, affordable doesn’t automatically mean cheap. Cost has to be viewed in terms of quality, and quality isn’t just product based. An expensive and high quality product can be let down by poor customer service levels, so these factors have to be taken into account also.
Location
When choosing a suitable forklift company, pick one that is close to your business. Response times will be significantly reduced if the supplier is locally based. Servicing and breakdown times can be reduced if the technician can be on site within an acceptable and agreed time between you and your chosen supplier.
After Sales, Servicing & Repairs
Your forklift will require regular, scheduled inspections and servicing, in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. You will experience a breakdown at some point, this being minor or in some cases, major. The ability of your supplier to perform these tasks timeously and effectively, will be dependent on several factors:
- The supplier’s level of knowledge and training and familiarity with the brand that you have chosen will be vital for maintaining both your machine and the relationship between you and your supplier. This is one good reason to seriously consider the official dealer of the manufacturer, as constant training, technical updates and quality standards are managed between those parties and form part of the distributor agreement.
- Adherence to these standards will ensure that your machine is available when you need it to be. Ask your chosen supplier for their maintenance policy, parts holding policy, factory training records and substantiation of the reliability of their brand. They should be able to provide you with these.
- Well run and managed forklift suppliers understand that After Sales service is the key to customer retention and brand loyalty.
Why choose Orizen and EP Equipment?
EP has benefited from the shareholding of the Kion Group (Linde, Still) in product design and product and manufacturing quality, making EP one of the fastest growing brands worldwide. EP employs state-of the-art manufacturing methods and processes to deliver high quality products that are fit-for-purpose, offering ease of use as well as ease of maintenance and repair. Product concepts are rigorously tested throughout the world prior to being released into the market.
With this expansion, EP has sought out and appointed dealers that have demonstrated the ability to support EP products. The Orizen Group meets and exceeds these stringent requirements set by EP Equipment to be a part of their international growth and ensuring that EP Equipment customers experience the highest levels of product support and service.
- Knowledge and a Wide Range of Forklift Options
  One of the first reasons why you should consider Orizen is that we understand the operational environments in which our forklifts will operate. Our first and foremost focus is on understanding your handling requirements, the what, where, when and how high.
  The wide range of equipment available, allied with this operational knowledge and experience, results in a wider range of options being made available to you, which will enable you to meet your operational objectives at the lowest possible cost per pallet or ton moved.
  If you already have a fleet of forklifts and are considering replacing or adding to the fleet, Orizen have a number of analytical tools available to model your operation and define the optimal, efficient and cost effective fleet required, providing you with solid information and data to assist you in your decision making and financial motivation.
- EP Care
  EP Care is a smart online platform that you can use to access parts, service attention, manuals and documents as well as information, records and data on your machine(s)
With Orizen and EP, the Power of Choice is yours
Acquiring a forklift is an easy matter. Acquiring the most suitable forklift that will get the job done at least cost, is a very different matter entirely. Making sure that this choice remains the correct choice for a number of years is where we at Orizen excel.

Orizen

	Orizen House 6 Derrick Road, Spartan, Kempton Park, 1619, Johannesburg, South Africa
	Landline +27 10 010 5800
	Phone +27 83 508 4897
	Email vijay@orizengroup.com

What to Consider When Buying a Forklift?

Preparation for choosing a Forklift?

Other Factors to Examine Before Investing in a Forklift

Choosing the Most Appropriate Forklift Brand and Supplier?

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