Forklifts are an essential piece of equipment for any warehouse or plant. Their ability to lift and move heavy loads with ease makes them invaluable for various material handling tasks. You need to Explore a Wide Range of Used Forklifts for Sale at Adaptalift if you are finding the best one. In recent years, electric forklifts have become increasingly popular over the traditional gas-powered variety. Electric forklifts provide a number of advantages, including lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and a quieter, cleaner work environment.
For warehouse and plant managers looking to add or upgrade their forklift fleet, an electric model is likely the best option. But with so many possible applications, how do you know which uses should be prioritized? Here are the top 5 most advantageous uses for an electric forklift in a warehouse or plant setting.
- Loading and Unloading Trucks
One of the primary duties of a forklift in a warehouse or plant is loading and unloading incoming and outgoing trucks. An electric forklift offers the power and runtime needed to efficiently move heavy palletized loads on and off trailers. Electrics excel at repetitive truck loading tasks thanks to faster acceleration and no wasted time for gear shifts like in gas powered models. The zero emissions are also ideal for indoor loading docks.
- Putting Stock Away in Racks
Warehouses rely heavily on pallet racking to maximize vertical storage space. Forklifts allow workers to stack pallets and cases on racks reaching 30 feet or higher. Electric forklifts can handle these intensive lifting and reaching jobs with ease. Their torque and gradeability offers excellent performance for accessing racks and narrow aisles. The compact size of electric counterbalance trucks compared to gas models also gives them an edge in maneuverability.
- Transporting Materials In and Around the Facility
In addition to discrete tasks like loading and order picking, electric forklifts help transport all types of materials around a warehouse or plant. Whether its raw materials, components, or finished goods, a dependable electric forklift can shuttle them from receiving to storage and then off to shipping when needed. Electrics can navigate tight turns and corners indoors that gas models can’t handle. The ability to opportunities charge rather than have to stop and refuel also improves transport productivity.
- Order Fulfillment and Retrieval
Order picking is one of the most labor and equipment intensive activities in distribution centers. Having reliable electric forklifts improves selectivity and accuracy when assembling orders to send to customers. Operators can utilize radio-frequency or other onboard computer systems to direct their pick paths. The ability to lift orders to elevated platforms for consolidation before loading out also helps when dealing with a high volume of orders with compressed timelines.
- Support for Facility Maintenance and Reconfiguration
While not their primary function, electric forklifts come in handy for periodic rearrangement of warehouse racks, assembly lines, or plant layouts. Their ability to lift bulky equipment and building materials provides an assist during maintenance projects as well. And for warehouses looking to optimize and change layouts to support e-commerce order fulfillment, electric forklifts allow quick iteration and reconfiguration capabilities. The versatility and uptime of electrics keeps operations moving during transitions.
The many strengths of electric forklifts make them the most useful material handling equipment for the intense and varied demands of warehouses and industrial facilities. When equipped with the proper attachments like carton clamps or drum lifters, electrics can take on even more specialized lifting tasks as well. While the higher upfront cost can deter some owners, the total cost of ownership over the life of an electric forklift is actually much lower than gas models. With tax incentives and on-site charging perks, electric forklifts deliver the productivity and reliability needed in today’s fast-paced business environments. Evaluating the unique needs of your facility is key to realizing the full benefits.