Sunday 26 May 2013

A Buying Guide: What to Look for when Purchasing Pallet Jacks

A few decades back, workers in factories and warehouses had to do backbreaking work as they carry supplies, raw materials and finished products from one point to another. Over the years, however, the way that manufacturing companies go through their business processes has greatly improved. Not only is the need for manual heavy lifting eliminated, but the time that materials get transported from point A to point B has been cut in half. This was made possible with the help of lifting trucks and pallet jacks.

A pallet jack is a very useful tool in the manufacturing industry which gets loaded onto a pallet conveyor or pallet truck. They’re typically made from wood, although metal is a material used as well. The main function of the pallet jack is to support the load which is usually a stack of boxes. Not only do they make transporting goods from one point to another a lot easier and more efficient, but the pallets also protect the items inside from being damaged or stuck along the pallet conveyor system.

Things to Consider when Buying Pallet Jacks

If you have a warehouse or a manufacturing company and you are thinking about buying pallet jacks, here are a few things that you can consider:
•    Should you go for new pallet jacks or used pallet jacks?
There are pros and cons to buying new pallet jacks and used pallet jacks. If you do have the budget for it, then you should definitely go with the new ones so they can last you for a good number of years. On the other hand, those with a limited budget but still require additional pallets for lifting goods can purchase used ones which are being sold by other manufacturing companies.

•    How much weight does the pallet jack need to handle.
Next, think about the weight that the pallet jack is supposed to handle. Depending on the size of the truck that you have, the total weight can range from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds. Naturally, the heavier the weight supported, the more expensive the truck and the pallets would be.

•    How low should the pallet truck go?
On average, pallet jacks can go as low as two feet and as high as seven feet from the ground. Depending on the specifications that you want, there are pallet trucks which can be lowered off the ground at a height that’s less than two feet – although you might need to have them specially configured.

•    What are the applications for the pallet jack?
Lastly, think about the applications for the pallet jack. There are trucks which can be used for rugged terrains while others can only be driven through flat surfaces. Depending on what the truck is capable of handling, you can purchase pallet jacks made from aluminum, ones with a double-face design, plastic, steel, wooden, four-way, nine-footed and standard GMA pallets. By taking these things into consideration, you can purchase the perfect pallet jacks for your business.

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