LGS Maximal Forklifts

BEFORE YOU BUY A NEW FORKLIFT

which forklift truck is the best choice for your company?

New forklifts

Before you decide to choose a forklift truck, you should carefully analyze which forklift will be the best solution for your company. The final choice of a forklift should be influenced not only by the price, but above all by its functionality in terms of meeting the needs of your company, including:

Where will the forklift work?

Outside or inside, or maybe both?
What surface will it be driving on (paving stone, concrete, gravel road, etc.)?
Under what weather conditions (rain, snow, or maybe only in summer)?
If inside, are there any restrictions - mast height? Turning radius? The weight of the stroller? Cleanliness requirements? No exhaust fumes etc.?

What will the forklift do (what tasks the forklift will do):

Bringing pallets to the warehouse, from the warehouse, loading on a car, unloading a container, handling racks?
Is the load on a pallet or other carrier or not?
Load dimensions and weight?
Work multi-shift?
Use intensity (number of mth per month)?

An important element in choosing the right forklift should be the so-called TCO (total cost of ownership) - running costs (spare parts), costs of inspections, servicing, repairs, costs related to the operation of an internal transport device - energy costs - fuel, gas or electricity, depending on the type of forklift drive selected.

Forklift offer

Basic parameters when choosing a forklift on the example of a counterbalance truck:

FORKLIFT DRIVE

Electric drive, diesel or maybe LPG?

Electrically powered forklifts are most often used for work in closed rooms, such as production halls or warehouses, but we can also use them when working outside. Their use inside closed rooms is safe for employees because they are characterized by the absence of exhaust emissions. The advantage of the electric drive is acceleration, smooth driving, precise maneuvers and small size of the engines. The limitation of the truck is the battery, which usually requires several hours of charging. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are used more and more often, which, unlike acid batteries, can be quickly recharged, extending the working time of the truck. There should be a special stand in the hall or warehouse where the battery can be connected. Among the machines with electric drive we have models with DC motors - DC and trucks with AC motors - AC. The latter type is more popular because the use of AC technology improves the efficiency of the device.

Diesel engine trucks operate in open spaces. They should not be used in closed rooms due to poisonous exhaust fumes. However, they are the most durable, efficient and economical units, especially with high lifting capacities. LPG forklifts are a good alternative for companies that use the machine both outdoors and indoors. The most modern filters that reduce the amount of exhaust gases are used in LPG engines.

FORKLIFT CAPACITY

Proper lifting capacity of the forklift - what to pay attention to.

One of the most important parameters of the forklift is its lifting capacity. When buying a machine for a company, we should remember that the capacity specified by the manufacturer is the catalog capacity for strictly defined conditions. The capacity is determined on the basis of the load center of gravity and the lifting height and is selected in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. Yes, for example, in the case of an undersized load, a forklift with a capacity of three tons can only lift 1 ton of load. Another thing that causes a drop in load capacity is additional attachments, such as a grapple or a side shift. The equipment moves away the center of gravity of the load and can weigh quite a lot itself.

FORKLIFT MAST

What type of mast to choose?

The type of mast determines the height at which we can lift the load. There are three basic types of masts to choose from:

Simplex – the forklift is equipped with one arm in which the carriage of the stroller moves.
Duplex – the forklift has a double frame, one part of the mast extends from the other part.
Triplex – the mast of the forklift consists of three parts.

An important parameter when choosing a mast is the so-called free stroke of the forks, i.e. to what height we can raise the forks without extending the mast beyond its resting value. For example, if we use a forklift that loads and unloads our containers / semi-trailers, we can use the simplest mast type, simplex, but when in a car semi-trailer we have to put a pallet on a pallet and we are limited by the ceiling, we will use the mast with the largest free lift possible, i.e. e.g. triplex.

TIRES

Forklift tires.

There are two main types of tires to choose from: solid tires - super-elastic or pneumatic tires. The first type of tire has a longer service life than pneumatic tires. They are designed to work on level ground. Perfect for a warehouse or hall. Their advantage is that they are not exposed to punctures. This value reduces the risk of unplanned downtime. On the other hand, pneumatic tires have better shock absorption. This feature contributes to the longer life of the torsion beam. If you have doubts or you are not sure which forklift will be the best solution for your company - contact our advisors who, thanks to their many years of experience in the industry, are able to offer solutions ideally suited to your needs and possibilities.

Ask specialist

What type of drive should you choose in a forklift?

Types of drives used in forklifts - which works best in which conditions?

Front forklifts, also known as ballast forklifts, are one of the most versatile machines used in internal transport due to the counterweight, which is responsible for the stability of the forklift when lifting heavy loads.

What tasks can counterbalance trucks be used for?

Both for horizontal transport as well as for loading, reloading, assembly and disassembly of various structures. Their versatility makes them applicable in many industries: logistics, industrial, construction and food.

There are many versions on the market with various configurations and parameters. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right forklift depending on the type and frequency of tasks performed in the enterprise.

So which forklift to choose? The first parameter that should decide on the choice is the type of drive. There are two basic categories to choose from: internal combustion forklifts, diesel or LPG powered forklifts, or electric or battery-powered forklifts.

Choose a forklift with the right type of drive

Where and for what to use a diesel forklift?

Internal combustion engine forklifts

IC engine forklifts are designed primarily for outdoor use. Due to the emission of poisonous exhaust gases, they cannot be used indoors. The exception are forklifts equipped with an LPG installation, in which the filters used significantly reduce the amount of exhaust fumes and can be used in semi-open rooms.

Internal combustion engine forklifts

Internal combustion forklifts are usually powerful, so they are often used to lift and transport heavy loads. They are definitely more resistant to unfavorable external factors, such as temperature, rainfall or dust. They do well in rough terrain on uneven ground and are always ready to go (no charging required).

Therefore, they are perfect for:

sawmills,
construction wholesalers,
or other industrial plants operating outdoors.

Internal combustion engine forklifts

Which forklifts for indoor use?

Electric counterbalance forklifts

In recent years, electric powered forklifts have been gaining more and more popularity, despite the higher purchase price of the forklift. Their main advantage is that they can be used in closed spaces such as halls and warehouses (due to the complete absence of exhaust emissions), but also in open spaces. They are quiet, cheap to operate and easy to use. They are also characterized by better acceleration, better maneuvering precision, and they need little space for operations.

Forklift batteries

The limitation of electrically powered forklifts is their lower power compared to diesel forklifts. And also the need to recharge the battery if the plant is operating on a multi-shift system.

There are different types of batteries used in forklift trucks:

traditional acid,
gel
and lithium-ion.

Electric forklifts will prove themselves in the transport and storage of smaller loads, indoors. Especially in places where the principle of zero exhaust emissions and low noise levels is respected.

Electric counterbalance forklifts

What types of batteries do forklifts use?

Acid battery

An acid battery requires proper maintenance, regular checking of its parameters and compliance with the required safety standards during charging.

Gel batteries

Gel batteries require more attention, but they do not require as complicated maintenance as acid batteries. They are cleaner in operation, but have a shorter life, lower energy storage density, so often you need to have at least two such batteries in order to use them interchangeably in order to maintain continuity of operation and extend their life.

Lithium-ion batteries

Electric forklifts powered by lithium-ion batteries have gained popularity in recent years. Li-Ion batteries do not require additional maintenance, are characterized by long life, high energy density and short charging time. They also do not emit harmful vapors (hydrogen), so they do not require a special room for charging them.

Choose yours electric counterbalance forklift

When to replace a gas cylinder?

Signals that there is no gas in the cylinder.

The obvious sign that there is no gas in the gas cylinder supplying the forklift truck is the low fuel level warning light, but the indicator will not always be precise.

What else can tell us that gas is running out?

Rough running and stalling of the forklift engine may also indicate running out of gas.

Ask the forklift service

What should I do if the gas in the cylinder runs out?

First of all, stop the forklift work you are doing and go to a safe and well-ventilated place.

ATTENTION:

remember, do not place or leave an LPG-powered forklift over cavities such as service ducts, due to the fact that propane-butane gas is heavier than air and may accumulate in such lower parts.

Ask forklifts service

Who can replace a gas cylinder?

The gas cylinder in the forklift can be replaced by any employee who is properly trained in the safe use and safe replacement of cylinders (according to the Regulation on occupational health and safety when using motor-driven forklift trucks). And although the same regulation states that "the scope of the above training should be defined in the training programs for operators of power-driven forklift trucks", not every operator has the appropriate training. It is worth remembering about a certificate confirming the completion of the relevant course.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment when changing cylinders. At least in protective gloves, which will protect against frostbite in the event of an accident caused by unsealing the cylinder.

A shortened procedure for replacing gas cylinders in a forklift powered by LPG.

In order to remove the empty cylinder, we must turn off the gas supply valve and unscrew the flexible hose from the cylinder valve.
Then, unfasten the latches and take out the empty cylinder, putting the cylinders in the designated place. We must remember to screw the cap on the valve.
Before installing a new cylinder, check that the gas cylinder is not damaged and check the rating plate to verify that this cylinder is definitely suitable for our forklift.
After a positive result of the checking activities, we can unscrew the cap from the cylinder valve, check the condition of the valve seal and thread.
Then put the cylinder on the holder, of course in the lying position.
After connecting the cylinder, slowly unscrew the valve and check the tightness of the system.

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask!

What else is worth remembering?

First of all, it should be remembered that the tightness of the system should be checked using the devices intended for this purpose. Never with fire!

Despite the external similarities, cylinders for domestic use should not be used in forklifts. The gas forklift cylinders are 80% full and have a tube that allows the gas to be used completely.

To make sure that no part of the fuel is accidentally left in the gas system, we should leave the forklift to go out on its own, exhausting any remaining fuel.

Contact with the forklift service

Manual or electric pallet truck?

Pallet trucks are one of the most frequently used devices for lifting and transporting goods placed on pallets. They are successfully used in many industries. The use of both manual and electric pallet trucks is very wide. Manual transport trolleys are used primarily on small surfaces:

in wholesalers and construction warehouses,
small-format stores and warehouses,
when unloading pallets from trucks.

How far do you have to travel with the goods?

Where the distances to transport goods are greater (large-area facilities, logistics centers), an electric pallet truck will be a much better choice. Transporting loads over a distance of several hundred meters with a manual transport trolley would be too slow and ineffective.

What is the weight of your transported goods?

The weight of the transported goods is also important - transporting heavy loads with a hand pallet truck is definitely more effort for the employee than in the case of an electric pallet truck, especially if the truck is to be used for several hours. In this case, it is better to invest in an electric pallet truck.

What are the differences in the use of a manual and electric pallet truck?

The undoubted advantage of the hand pallet truck is its simple construction and easy operation. The hand pallet truck can be operated practically without any special preparation (short training and presentation of safety rules is enough). To operate a manual transport pallet truck (without the lifting function), additional authorizations and registration of the truck in the Office of Technical Inspection (UDT in polish) are not required.

Thanks to its simple design, any faults can be quickly rectified - many basic, ongoing repairs can be done without specialist knowledge and software, without causing unnecessary downtime. The advantage is also the low cost of maintenance (does not require charging the batteries, thanks to which it is ready to work practically all the time), small size and a much lower purchase price.

So what are the arguments in favor of an electric pallet truck?

First of all, manual pallet trucks have simple functions and require quite a lot of force. In the case of complex and long-hour operations over long distances, using your own muscles significantly slows down logistics processes and work efficiency.

Forklift license

It is also worth noting that due to the legal provisions in force in Poland governed by the Regulation of the Minister of Labor and Social Policy on occupational health and safety in manual transport work and other work related to physical exertion, the movement of heavier loads only by the use of muscles is even prohibited. Therefore, although the purchase of an electric pallet truck is associated with higher expenses, in general it may turn out to be a better solution, significantly increasing the comfort and productivity of employees.

Battery charging problem

Thanks to the increasingly used lithium-ion batteries, the problem of charging batteries is no longer such a big challenge. This is where lithium-ion technology shows its strengths. The batteries can be quickly recharged during breaks in work (the batteries are very efficient in terms of charging cycles and frequency), are virtually maintenance-free and safe.

The increasing efficiency compared to ordinary lead-acid batteries, no downtime for maintenance and replacement, and quick recharging mean that more and more companies are choosing to purchase an electric wheelchair with a lithium-ion battery. The more so that small and inexpensive specialized electric pallet trucks with lithium-ion batteries, dedicated to small stores, have appeared on the market.

Check which device will best suit the needs of your warehouse.

If you are not sure of your choice,, contact our advisors.

Contact our advisors

Warehouse forklifts

Electric counterbalance forklift

Diesel counterbalance trucks

LPG counterbalance trucks

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