When deciding to buy a forklift, you may be weighing up the pros, cons, costs and gains from purchasing this new equipment. Forklifts are an extremely versatile piece of machinery, that’s why we’ve put together this list of ways a forklift can save you time and money in the long run: 

Heavy load lifting 

A forklift truck’s ability to safely lift heavy loads can save a business significant amounts of time compared to manually trying to lift and move materials. Forklifts can lift a substantial amount more in one trip than employees, and therefore will be more efficient in doing so. 

Fast and efficient goods transport 

Businesses that operate out of large warehouses can benefit greatly from the use of a forklift. Transporting goods from location to location within a warehouse manually via employees can take a significant amount of time and effort. Forklifts are powered by combustion or electric engines and can travel much faster speeds than employees can by simply walking, and they are also able to safely carry materials to reduce the amount of time taken to move between locations. 

Reduced labour costs 

The use of a forklift to lift and transport materials means less human power is needed, and therefore this significantly reduces labour costs as fewer employees are working in the warehouse. When using a forklift,  only one forklift operator is needed compared to multiple employees needed to manage one job.  There are also fewer resources needed for hiring staff and training them to do the job as you only need one forklift operator per forklift at any given time. However, the initial cost of buying or hiring a forklift should be accounted for. 

Reduced hazards and injury claims 

Using a forklift to mechanically lift materials of any size and weight helps to massively reduce the likelihood of employees becoming injured from doing manual labour, such as lifting heavy loads too heavy for them, lifting them incorrectly, or dropping materials. Reducing or eliminating manual lifting from the warehouse, therefore, reduces the risks of paying out multiple injury compensation claims. 

Increased versatility 

Making use of suitable forklift attachments can provide versatility for jobs that can be performed. Attachments such as a safety cage allow for workers to be safely lifted from one area of a warehouse, to complete repairs or maintenance where needed. 

Using a forklift for other jobs as well as lifting materials eliminates the need for additional equipment such as a dedicated elevated work platform, which would cost your business capital that could be spent elsewhere. 

For assistance in finding a suitable forklift for your business needs – get in touch. We will talk you through the full range of electric, diesel and gas forklifts that are available and the advantages of each. If you are looking for the best forklifts for sale, with a full-service offering, then don’t hesitate to give us a call today.