Wide Range of Forklifts Available for Material Handlers in Pretoria
Wherever there may be a need to lift and to transport bulk materials for short distances, the chances are that the task will be performed with the help of a lift truck. For handling everything from pallets loaded with tins of baked beans or toilet rolls to face bricks and sacks of cement, forklifts have become the day-to-day workhorses for most warehouse owners in the industrial areas of Pretoria and other cities worldwide.
Although their actual inventor appears to remain unknown, it is generally accepted that these tough little vehicles made their first appearance in the US during 1917. Known ten as the Tructractor, it was produced by the Clark Company of Lexington, Kentucky, a well-known manufacturer of axles. As one popular saying proclaims, “Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow” and this has certainly been true of the lift-truck industry. Their sales numbers count in the millions today. A significant number of these find their way to destinations in Pretoria and other cities in South Africa.
Today, dozens of manufacturers, some of whom produce hundreds of different models, now compete for a share of this lucrative market. While the wide range of products serves to cater to an equally wide range of applications, it can also make it more difficult for a prospective purchaser to ensure making the right choice. The various individual makes and models apart, those forklifts that are destined for Pretoria and other South African cities are of several fundamentally different types. Each is of a design that is best suited for a particular type of task or work environment.
Before making your choice, the first step should be to list your needs. You will need to take into account the type of loads to be lifted and their maximums weight. The layout of your warehouse will also be important. For example, how wide are the aisles? Are there any low-hanging beams or light fittings that could present an obstruction? Then there is the question of whether you need an electric or engine-driven vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main types of forklift available to warehouse owners in Pretoria.
The first major choice to consider will be between an electric vehicle or one powered by an internal-combustion engine. Electric units are widely favoured for indoor use since they produce no harmful emissions that could threaten the health of warehouse staff. That said, there are also heavy-duty electric models suitable for outdoor use while newer diesel-driven models with much-reduced emission levels can also be used for short periods indoors. These forklifts, for example, could be useful in a Pretoria facility where both indoor and outdoor material handling may be necessary.
Other factors that might influence this choice are the need to maintain an on-site supply of diesel or propane when purchasing internal-combustion models and the fact that an electric lift truck could require anything from three to twelve hours to fully recharge their batteries.
Counterbalanced forklifts are the most common choice for Pretoria warehouses as they are highly manoeuvrable and can be turned in the aisles. You will just need to check the maximum load capacity and the height of the mast when fully extended. However, if its power you need most, the diesel models are designed for the heaviest loads. For example, the UniCarriers IF6 Series is capable of handling loads of between 6 and 10 t.
Despite its exceptional lifting power and tough build, the IF6 series has been designed for fuel-efficiency and ease of operation as well as operator comfort and safety. The IF6 series and a wide range of other world-class forklifts are available in Pretoria and throughout the nine provinces from Bidvest Materials Handling (Pty) Ltd. If you need the best forklift hire services in South Africa contact Bidvest Forklifts