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Buying Forklifts in Gauteng

If you own a forklift in Gauteng, you will appreciate all the benefits that it offers your business. Moving heavy items from one part of a warehouse to another and stacking pallets on top of each other to effectively utilize the space you have available. Loading delivery trucks is also easier with these vehicles, as it is so versatile and has the ability to manoeuvres in tight spaces which will usually be difficult or impossible for your workers to access.

One thing to consider is your budget. If you have enough money to buy a brand new vehicle, you can do so from a reputable dealer. However, many business owners do not have these funds available and this means that they need to consider either hiring a machine or buying a second hand one. If you are hiring a forklift, you can also benefit from a maintenance contracts that will be included in your monthly fee, and this means that you will have technicians available that can look after your forklift when it breaks down, and perform regular maintenance on your vehicles.

When you choose to buy a second hand forklift, always make sure that you take your driver or technician with you before you buy, so that he can check the vehicle and perform an inspection to make sure everything is working like it should. There are a lot of things to look at, such as oil leaks and seals, which need to be noted so that it can be repaired before you start using it on a daily basis. It is also important to make sure that you are prepared for the repairs or maintenance on the forklift, if any, and work this into your budget when buying.

Elite Forklifts provides a variety of forklifts in Gauteng and can assist business owners in choosing the perfect vehicle for their needs. We can also assist with maintenance and repairs, as well as second hand forklifts that are in very good condition, with a full service history.

Why You Should Hire a Forklift

As a business owner there are many reasons why you should hire a forklift for your daily business needs. For warehouse owners especially, these machines have a lot to offer in terms of versatility and affordability as you can easily rent one or more vehicles to suit your needs without having to buy them at an expensive price.

Not all businesses can afford to buy their own fleet of vehicles when they are just starting out, making this a very viable option to go with. These vehicles have the ability to manoeuvre throughout your warehouse in small spaces and allow you to effortlessly load trucks and move stock around when needed. Forklifts have been in operation for over 30 years and they are often a very essential part of any warehouse or factory, regardless of the type of industry you are in. They can load trucks with heavy items and move stock on to high areas where they need to be stored. When properly looked after, these vehicles can last for years even when they are used on a daily basis as they are built for performance and durability.

Always remember to thoroughly check a vehicle when you rent it and look for small oil or water leaks as this many cause problems down the line. Also check that the mast operates effortlessly and that the vehicle can stop within a reasonable distance. Usually this is in less than two truck lengths and your driver can check this before you rent the vehicle.

Elite Forklift Rental specialises in a variety of models and we make it easy for business owners to hire a forklift for their needs. Our team of experts can advise you on the best model to choose and how to properly operate your machine for maximum performance.

Forklift Maintenance Tips

A few important forklift maintenance tips regarding battery care are shared below. For a forklift maintenance agreement that will not cost you an arm and a leg you can contact Elite Forklift Rental in Johannesburg, Gauteng. They are trusted suppliers of forklifts whether for rental or purchase and they accept trade-ins.

Battery Care

Don’t charge the battery before it reaches about 80% depth which should be near the red zone. Rather than charging the battery daily, charge only when needed to ensure a better life span of the battery. The battery depending on the brand will need recharging about every 10 or 20 life cycles. If you recharge on a daily basis you will shorten the lifespan of the battery considerably.

If overflowing takes place you should rinse the battery immediately with water and if you have baking soda available, you can add some to the solution. This will prevent corrosion build-up. It is important to use enough water for the rinsing to ensure that the acid is diluted enough to prevent damage to the battery. If you fail to do so, the acid build-up will also lead to conductivity which in turn may lead to automatic discharging of the battery when it is not used. White corrosion build-up will shorten the lifespan of the battery. It also poses a health risk to employees that have to check the battery for the correct water level. Rinse the battery at least twice a year to prevent acid build-up on top and underneath the power source.

With forklift maintenance, make sure that you never do the following:

• Overfill or overcharge the battery
• Interrupt the charging of the battery
• Charging it for short periods such as during lunch hour
• Let the battery go dead completely
• Overheat a battery.

For expert advice and quality forklift maintenance, be sure to get in contact with Elite Forklift Rental today!

Material Handling Equipment for the Warehouse and Factory

Material handling equipment is one component of warehousing where you will be able to reduce operating costs, space taken up, and time taken to stack or move loads around. Although manual material handling is appropriate in many instances for small loads, it does take a lot of manpower and time.

For larger loads it is suggested that you use appropriate material handling equipment such as electric pallet stackers or pallet jack units. The manual pallet jack still involves human labour for the loading, but is already one step up on only using human labour since you will be able to move larger loads at a quicker pace and keep the neatness of the warehouse.

Use less effort and improve profits by investing not only in manual, but also one or two electric stackers. They are normally economical, have low noise emission levels, do not emit any harmful gasses, and are quite manoeuvrable.

When selecting the material handling equipment for your warehouse, consider the following:

• Load weight that has to be lifted and stacked.
• Types of aisles used in the warehouse.
• Will there be narrow aisles or will you be able to use wide-axle forklifts?
• How many labourers do you have available?
• Do you want to save space?
• Do you have operators with certificates to operate the electric stackers?
• What storage space is available for the stacker or stackers?
• Do you have additional funds for a battery station and an additional battery?
• How many hours on end should the stacker operate in a given day?
• Do you want a deep reach truck for double stacking or is space not that big a concern?
• What type of attachment should be fitted onto the equipment? For example forks, slip sheets, and so.

Once you have assessed your particular material handling requirements, contact Elite Forklifts in Johannesburg to purchase or rent new and used forklifts suitable for warehouses.

How to Select a Forklift Hire Company

If you only require lifting equipment for a specific job or will only use such equipment on an occasional basis forklift hire will be the best option. The maintenance costs of lifting equipment plus the financing costs of the equipment must justify the purchasing of such equipment. If the factors are weighed and it is found that you cannot justify the costs, you will benefit from forklift hire services.

Selecting the right forklift hire company is your next step. Consider the following factors before selecting the supplier of such services:

• Does the company have an experienced management team?
• Do they offer insurance?
• Does the company offer maintenance and service agreements?
• Do they offer repair of tyres on site?
• Do they offer only electrical or both electrical and powered lifters?
• Is there a variety of equipment that can be rented?
• Do they stock brand names such as Toyota and Hyster known for quality?
• Will you be able to rent short and long term?
• Is the company centrally located?

Elite Forklifts has an experienced management team, offers a wide variety of electrical and fuel driven lifting equipment and stocks well-known brands. They offer service and maintenance agreements, will do tyre repairs on-site and offers short and long term rentals. Their equipment is well maintained and they offer insurance. In addition the company is centrally located in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

Additional Factors to Be Considered

Also consider factors such as load, terrain, pricing, work hours, functionality, and accessories which may be needed. The experts from Elite Forklifts will be able to answer your questions and guide you regarding the best equipment for the job. Apart from forklift hire services, they also offer new and used equipment for sale and accept trade-ins.