Whether you operate a warehouse that provides storage for different clients or own a warehouse that is used for the goods your business produces, there is no doubt that forklifts come in handy. The question many business owners have is whether or not they need more than one type of lift. The answer is yes. Here are three reasons why having at least two forklifts with different designs will serve you well.
Getting Into Tight Spaces
Making the most efficient use of your warehouse space sometimes means finding creative ways to arrange goods stored on pallets or that must be positioned without any type of pallet. While goods on pallets are often arranged in neat lines for easy retrieval, other arrangements may leave very little room to move containers in position or to retrieve them when the time comes.
At the very least, it makes sense to have two forklifts that you can press into service. One can have the standard set of blades that slide easily under a pallet and make it easy to lift and transport the pallet to any area of the operation you want. The other lift can come with squeeze blades that allow the driver to gently grab larger containers on each side, lift it up, and move it to another place in the warehouse. If you have these two, there will never be any trouble moving anything around safely.
Loading and Unloading Trailers
Another point in favor of having multiple lifts that are designed differently has to do with loading and unloading trailers. When you receive a delivery, what sort of vehicle was used? Are the goods loaded on a standard trailer or on a flatbed? Is it a short trainer or a long one? How tall is the trailer? Depending on what is being delivered, one of your lift designs will work better for unloading.
The same holds true for loading finished goods when you need to ship a customer order. Depending on the type of trailer, whether you are loading the goods with or without pallets, and even the dimensions of the trailer will make a difference. With the right lift, you are less likely to cause any damage to the containers or the goods. That decreases the odds of customer returns.
Always Having a Backup
While one lift is likely to be right for specific functions, the other one can be pressed into service if the need arises. By having at least two lifts on hand, the operation does not have to come to a halt if one of them is down for maintenance or repairs. You can still bring more finished goods into the warehouse, pull goods for shipments, and load trailers when the freight company shows up to collect those goods.
Remember that investing in used forklifts is a great way to get the equipment you need and keep the cost lower without sacrificing quality. Contact a supplier today and see what’s in stock. With at least two lifts on hand, you will find keeping the warehouse in order is a lot easier.
