Buying a New Forklift? Keep These Considerations in Mind

If you have a warehouse, one of the essential pieces of equipment that you would need to transport your goods is a forklift. Since this is one of the major investments that you could make for your business, it is not surprising to find business owners focusing on the price of the equipment in an attempt to keep their business expenditure low. However, the cost is not the only factor that would determine the type of forklift that you can purchase. With the broad range of options available, it is essential to bear in mind other elements to make sure what you pay for would maximise the efficiency and productivity of your warehouse. So what are a couple of considerations to keep in mind when buying a new forklift?

New vs used equipment

The first decision to make before you purchase a forklift would be whether you would be satisfied with a second-hand piece of equipment or if you would rather splurge on new machinery. Second-hand machinery may be the cost-efficient option, so this would make an ideal choice for people with a limited budget. Nevertheless, used equipment will require rigorous maintenance if exposed to heavy-duty usage. Thus, this option would only be viable if you just need the forklift for light work.

Conversely, if you have a busy warehouse that would require high-intensity heavy-lifting on a daily basis, you would be better off investing in brand new equipment that would be in pristine condition.

Power source

The second decision that you would have to make would be the type of energy used to power the forklift, as this would also influence your long-term costs. Diesel-powered forklifts are one of the cheapest alternatives that you could choose for your warehouse, but it is also critical to note that these do not provide you with eco-friendly operations.

Gas powered forklifts, on the other hand, are a green alternative but they do tend to cost more than their diesel counterparts do. Electric driven forklifts are a popular option due to the high convenience they offer, but you would have to factor in the electrical consumption of your warehouse.

Lastly, you may opt for manually operated forklifts that do not require any power source, but these can be physically draining for your operators, which could mean an increase in your labour costs. Overall, the capacity needed for your warehouse should help you decide what would work best for your needs.