| We recommend that the decision maker take the | | | | truck required. |
| following factors into consideration: | | | | What is the weight of materials that have to be |
| What are the properties of the materials that have | | | | lifted? |
| to be lifted? | | | | Bigger is not always better in the materials handling |
| Understand the properties (load) of the materials that | | | | business. One could easily reason that you just get a |
| have to be lifted. Lift truck capacity is affected by | | | | bigger truck for heavier loads. Bigger trucks require |
| the height that the materials have to be lifted and | | | | more space to move and may cost more, making it |
| the size of the load. It is also important to include the | | | | not the most suitable solution where heavy materials |
| dimensions of the load, as this will affect the size of | | | | in small spaces have to be moved. |
| the truck selected. | | | | At which height must the materials be stored? |
| How will the materials be stored? | | | | Lift height and load size determines the capacity of a |
| The way materials are stored also plays a role in | | | | lift truck. A bigger load size moves the lift |
| determining the type of lift truck that would be | | | | truck´s center of gravity, reducing the lifting |
| required. Potato farmers are required to store heavy | | | | capacity, making the height at which the materials |
| loads at high levels in extreme conditions such as | | | | that have to be stored just as important as the load. |
| uneven terrain, plenty of dust and temperature | | | | Once the properties of the materials are determined, |
| controlled environments, which does not allow for | | | | the capabilities and options of the lifting equipment |
| much room to move. This differs vastly from a | | | | should be evaluated. How the lift truck is powered |
| warehouse requiring storage at a high level where | | | | (petrol, diesel, electric), mast options, aisle type, |
| pickers are hoisted to break bulk in order to select | | | | safety features and many more factors have to be |
| merchandise. | | | | taken into consideration when determining which lift |
| How will the materials be received and shipped? | | | | truck supplier to use. In our next article we will take |
| Shipping materials from a loading dock allows for | | | | a look at the various types of lift trucks available and |
| more space than materials that have to be received | | | | the features that play a role in determining the right |
| and shipped from a cold room. This will affect the | | | | materials handling equipment for the specific job at |
| size, lifting capacity and maneuverability of the lift | | | | hand. |