Productivity and efficiency in a business always come at the cost of investing in the right machinery that is appropriate for the type of your company's operations. Choosing the proper kind of equipment to purchase can be overwhelming, especially because you have to consider several factors such as the brand that you want, the capacity, the fuel type, and so much more. It’s definitely not as easy as buying a car, but it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Knowing the right questions to ask and the things to look for when you buy forklift equipment can make the process smooth-sailing and save you a lot of time and money.

Whether you’re just starting out your business and looking to buy your first forklift truck, or you’re already a seasoned entrepreneur that wants to buy forklift machinery in addition to your existing fleet, here are some of the things that you can expect before your purchase:

1. What does your business require?

The first and most important thing is knowing what you need your forklift to do for your business. Before going out to buy forklift trucks, you need to have a substantial understanding about your business and how the equipment can help you achieve your goals now and in the future.

Some of the factors that you need to be looking at when you buy forklift equipment are the following:

· Environment: Will the forklift be used in an indoor or outdoor setting? If the environment is outdoors, will the terrain be rough or smooth?

· Hours of Operation: How long will the forklift be used within the day? Will there be a need to operate it for a full day or will it be used for shorter shifts?

· Cargo: What type of materials will be loaded onto the forklift? The weight, shape, and dimensions of the materials should be taken into account when you decide to buy forklift equipment. Determine the size of the pallets that you will be using for your goods and confirm if there is a need to stack them vertically.

· Storage: If you are planning to buy forklift trucks for your warehouse, determine the measurements of the doorways and aisles, ceiling height, and other design features. The information will help you select the type, capacity, and any additional accessories or attachments that you will need when you buy forklift equipment.

· Crew: The licence and training of your team of forklift operators should also be taken into consideration when buying a forklift. When you buy forklift trucks that your operators are familiar with, you won’t have to shell out more money to train them how to use it. This will also lessen the downtime, as the newly purchased forklift can be operated right away.

2. What features are you looking for?

Now that you have a clear picture of what your business needs, the next step in deciding to buy forklift equipment is to look at the features that can accommodate your needs.

Some of the major features that you will need to decide on are the following:

· Capacity: A forklift’s rated load capacity, as indicated on its data plate, is the maximum weight (in tons or kilograms) that it can safely carry and transport in relation to a specific load centre distance. The load centre is the distance between the fork’s vertical face and the object’s centre of gravity. Simply put, the maximum load that a forklift can carry is dependent on both the object’s weight and shape. Maximum capacity is also affected by the forklift’s attachments, its lifting height, and other factors.

Choosing the right forklift capacity can be challenging, especially since businesses are always evolving to meet customers’ demands. Generally, it’s best to buy forklift machinery with a rated capacity that is slightly higher than your expected needs, as this allows you to future-proof your fleet. Buy Forklift’s team of material handling experts can assist you in optimising your equipment capacity, whether you are looking to buy forklift equipment to increase your productivity or planning to replace or upgrade your existing fleet.

 · Engine-Type: Forklift engines can be powered on either LPG, diesel or electric. While they are all designed to basically perform the same job – that is, to load, lift, and move materials from one place to another – their usage is what largely separates them from one another.

Diesel forklifts generally perform excellently in an outdoor environment, because the engines are designed to provide more power compared to electric forklifts. If your business operations are on rough terrain, then you should buy diesel forklift machinery, as they are designed to withstand outdoor weather conditions. Even with added attachments and hydraulics, diesel forklifts can outperform electric forklifts because these components can easily deplete an electric forklift’s power resources.

When you buy diesel forklift equipment, you should also consider that they are noisy to operate and emit fumes as the by-product of burning diesel (just like your regular car). The main advantage that you can look at when you buy diesel forklift is its availability: it can work continuously for hours without the need to be recharged. It only takes a few minutes to refuel a diesel forklift before you can use it again.

The drawbacks that you may experience when you buy diesel forklift is that it can incur higher maintenance costs due to having more moving parts compared to electric forklifts. It also has limited manoeuvrability and can be more expensive to maintain in the long run. You might be wondering if you can still buy diesel forklift for indoor use, and the short answer to this would be “yes”. However, there are a lot of things that you need to consider, such as having a proper ventilation system that will ensure a good flow of fresh air within your indoor jobsite, as well as additional specialised training and certification for your forklift operators to utilise a diesel forklift indoors.

Electric forklifts are the answer to volatile fuel costs and the rising pressure to shift towards greener, cleaner technology. They are powered by rechargeable batteries, which make them quieter to operate and more compact, deeming them the excellent choice for indoor use. If you need something that is easy to control and has the flexibility to manoeuvre in tight aisles and spaces, you can buy electric forklift equipment. Maintenance costs are also significantly lower when you opt to buy electric forklift, because they have less moving parts compared to diesel forklifts.

One of the disadvantages that you might have to look at when you choose to buy electric forklift is its limited battery power. You will need to recharge or replace the battery frequently throughout the day in order to operate an electric forklift continuously. Additionally, accessories and attachments to your electric forklift can also deplete its battery power rather quickly.

Ultimately, the choice of engine type largely depends on how you intend to use the forklift. Buy Forklift's can help you evaluate which type of engine is best for your business. As the leading provider of forklift solutions across Australia, we offer a wide range of diesel and electric forklift units. With our multiple locations, including Western Australia, we can readily assist you should you decide to buy a forklift.

 · NEW or USED: You might be wondering if it will be better to buy new forklift or settle for a used one. Generally, if you are planning to use the forklift for more than four hours a day, you might decide to buy a new forklift equipment, as it can be more reliable and provide better returns, with maintenance costs factored in. However, there is an equally great benefit when you elect to buy a used forklift instead.

Basically, a newer forklift will definitely cost more than a used forklift. In fact, you can buy used forklift for half the price of a new one, as there are very cheap and well-maintained options available in the market.  Choosing to buy used forklift can offer you flexibility on your investment – you can use the remaining money to buy other equipment or fund other areas of your business.

Moreover, new forklift models have added features that may require retraining of your forklift operators before you can put them to use, so deciding to buy used forklift can also help you save on training costs. Although used forklifts have the benefit of great value for money, it is important to note that strict scrutiny should be carried out when you want to buy used forklift to avoid buying problematic units. That’s why it is important to buy forklift equipment only from trusted sources and dealerships. Buy Forklift's has an extensive fleet of new and used forklift models that you can choose from, and we always ensure that our used forklifts are excellently maintained, with some units even covered by a one-year warranty on labour and parts.

Now that you know all of the important factors to consider when buying a forklift, it’s time to get started on your search. If you need help finding the perfect lift for your business, contact us today. Our team of experts would be more than happy to help you find the perfect machine for your needs and budget. We hope this guide has been helpful in getting you started on your journey to finding the best possible forklift for your business requirements.