When choosing the right forklift for the right application you have to take in many considerations. You need to consider the type of load you will need to transport, the weight of that load, the surface on which you will use the forklift on and many other factors.
For small warehouses you have different considerations than for large warehouses. You need to account for aisle width, the likelihood of higher storage solutions due to limited space and various other elements.
There are several forklift trucks or material handling solutions that are more suited to smaller warehouses. These forklift trucks are built specifically for use within small spaces.
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Here are some of the forklifts that are designed to be effective in small spaces:
3 Wheel Electric: These forklifts have incredible turning circles thanks to their design. They are popular in high-rack application where customers have narrow aisles and need forklifts with excellent maneuverability. They are best suited to smooth flat floors and for indoor use.
Reach Trucks: A reach truck offers you outstanding manoeuvrability and a substantial amount of lift height for such a relatively slender machine. With their ability to reach out using their forks the reach truck is able to operate in very tight environments to heights as high as 13 metres without compromising stability.
Stackers: Compact, easy to use and highly versatile, stackers have been developed to deliver exceptional productivity in every setting. An ergonomic and extremely compact design, coupled with a very narrow chassis and outstanding visibility, ensure excellent maneuverability in tight spaces, such as on board road vehicles or in block stacking. This makes stackers a good choice for small warehouses.
Choosing the correct forklift doesn’t need to be a daunting job. If you need the best forklift for small warehouses just ask yourself the following questions:
What is your objective?
What do you want to achieve with the forklift? What situations or applications will you need the forklift in. Think about each type of job you would need the forklift to help in and write them down in order of priority.
How much and to what height do you need to store stuff?
Determine what the maximum height is that you would need to store stuff at and also calculate the maximum weight you would need to lift to that height.
Do you need to offload and load trucks?
If you would need to offload and load trucks from outside and then bring that cargo into the warehouse to store then a 3 wheel electric forklift is better suited than a reach truck. FInd out exactly what tasks your small warehouse forklift will have to carry out.
Can fuel be stored? Can fumes be emitted onsite?
If you choose a petrol or diesel forklift, will you be able to store fuel or will space prevent you from doing so in your small warehouse. If you work in the FMCG industry you might not be allowed to emit exhaust fumes, in which case the best forklift for you would be an electric forklift.
