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Everything you Need to Know About Forklift Rental

Are you in need of a forklift for a short-term project or occasional use, but not quite ready to invest in buying one? Look no further than forklift hire! Forklift rental can provide you with a cost-effective solution for your lifting and moving needs. In this blog post, I will cover everything you need to know about forklift hire.

Forklift Rental: What is it?

Forklift rental, also known as forklift hire, is a service provided by companies that rent out forklifts for short-term or long-term use. These companies typically offer a range of forklift types and sizes to meet the needs of various industries, including construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.

If you’re looking to hire a forklift, KS Lift Trucks is a fantastic, reliable company to check out. Not only do they offer forklifts to rent but you can actually purchase new and second-hand trucks as well. So, you are bound to find something for your needs! Plus, if you already have a forklift, they also have attachments and accessories available to hire as well. Make sure to browse their website today, I couldn’t recommend them enough.

Why Consider Forklift Hire?

There are many reasons why you might consider forklift hire. Here are just a few:

Cost savings: Renting a forklift can be a cost-effective alternative to purchasing one, especially if you only need it for a short period of time.

Flexibility: Forklift hire allows you to have access to a forklift whenever you need it, without the commitment of owning one.

Maintenance: When you rent a forklift, the rental company is responsible for maintenance and repairs, saving you time and money.

Variety: Forklift rental companies typically offer a wide range of forklift types and sizes, so you can find the perfect forklift for your specific needs.

Forklift Hire vs. Buying a Forklift

While forklift hire can be a great option for many businesses, there are some situations where buying a forklift might be more beneficial. Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to rent or buy a forklift:

Frequency of use: If you need a forklift on a regular basis, it might be more cost-effective to purchase one rather than renting one every time you need it.

Long-term needs: If you have long-term needs for a forklift, such as ongoing projects or regular deliveries, buying a forklift may be more practical.

Cost: If you have the budget to purchase a forklift outright, it may make more sense to do so rather than paying rental fees over time.

How to Rent a Forklift

Renting a forklift is a simple process. Here are the steps you can take to rent a forklift:

Determine your needs: Consider the weight and size of the items you need to lift and move, as well as the height you need to reach.

Choose a forklift type: Forklift rental companies offer a range of forklift types, including electric, diesel, and gas-powered forklifts.

Determine the rental period: Decide how long you will need the forklift for and discuss this with the rental company.

Get a quote: Request a quote from the forklift rental company that includes the rental period, type of forklift, and any additional fees.

Book your rental: Once you have received your quote and are happy with the terms, book your rental.

Tips for Renting a Forklift

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when renting a forklift:

Read the contract carefully: Before signing a rental contract, make sure you understand all the terms and conditions.

Check for damages: Before accepting the forklift, inspect it for any damage and report it to the rental company.

Follow safety guidelines: Make sure you and your employees are trained in the safe operation of the forklift.

Return the forklift on time: Late fees can quickly add up, so make sure you return the forklift on time to avoid additional charges.

Forklift rental can be a great option for businesses that need a forklift for a short period of time or occasional use. With the flexibility, cost savings, and variety of forklift types and sizes available, it's no wonder why more and more businesses are turning to forklift rental. Just remember to consider your specific needs and do your research before making a decision. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect forklift rental for your needs!

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Fork Lift Servicing: Keep Your Machine Running Smoothly

As a business owner, you rely on your forklift to keep your operations running smoothly. Whether you use it to move heavy items around your warehouse or to unload goods from a delivery truck, a well-functioning forklift is crucial for your business's success. However, like any other machine, forklifts require regular maintenance to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently. That's where forklift servicing comes in.

Fork Lift Repairs - Don't Wait Until It's Too Late!

If your forklift breaks down, it can disrupt your entire operation and cost you money in lost productivity. It's essential to address any issues with your forklift as soon as they arise to prevent small problems from turning into major ones. Forklift servicing can help you catch issues early and fix them before they cause downtime or safety hazards.

When it comes to forklift repairs, there are a few common issues that you should be aware of. One of the most common issues is with the hydraulic system. If you notice that your forklift is struggling to lift or move loads, it could be a sign of a problem with the hydraulic fluid or pump. Other issues to look out for include electrical problems, worn-out brakes, and damaged tires.

If you notice any of these issues with your forklift, don't hesitate to contact a forklift servicing professional. They can diagnose the problem and provide you with a solution that will get your forklift up and running in no time.

I have also written a blog post on LOLER 98 and PUWER98 examinations which you need to comply with if you have a forklift! Please feel free to give it a read.

Fork Lift Parts - Quality Matters

When it comes to forklift servicing, the quality of the parts used can make all the difference. Cheaper, lower-quality parts may seem like a cost-saving measure at first, but they can end up costing you more in the long run. Low-quality parts are more likely to fail, which means you'll need to replace them more frequently. This can lead to more downtime and higher repair costs over time.

Investing in high-quality forklift parts, on the other hand, can help you save money and improve your forklift's performance. Quality parts are less likely to fail, which means you'll have fewer breakdowns and less downtime. They can also improve your forklift's fuel efficiency and reduce its overall operating costs.

When you're choosing forklift parts, it's important to look for parts that are specifically designed for your make and model of forklift. Generic or universal parts may not fit properly or perform as well as parts that are designed for your specific machine. Working with a forklift servicing professional can help you ensure that you're getting the right parts for your machine.

Forklift Servicing - Regular Maintenance is Key

Regular forklift servicing is the best way to keep your machine running smoothly and prevent costly breakdowns. A forklift servicing professional can provide a range of maintenance services, including oil changes, filter replacements, and safety checks. They can also identify any potential issues before they become major problems, which can save you money and prevent downtime.

Most forklift manufacturers recommend servicing your machine every 200 to 250 hours of operation. However, if you're using your forklift more frequently or in harsh conditions, you may need to service it more often. Working with a forklift servicing professional can help you develop a maintenance schedule that works best for your specific needs.

In addition to regular servicing, there are a few things you can do to keep your forklift in good condition. These include:

Checking the hydraulic fluid levels regularly

Keeping the forklift clean and free of debris

Inspecting the tires for damage or wear

Operating the forklift safely and within its rated capacity

Working with a Forklift Servicing Professional

When it comes to forklift servicing, it's important to work with a qualified professional who has experience working with your make and model of forklift. An experienced technician will be able to diagnose problems quickly and accurately and provide you with the best possible solutions.

Before choosing a forklift servicing provider, be sure to do your research. Look for a provider who is licensed and insured and who has a good reputation in the industry. You may also want to ask for references or read reviews from other customers to ensure that you're working with a reliable provider. If you’re struggling to find a servicing professional, I recommend checking out KS Lift Trucks who are experts within the industry. Not only do they offer thorough examinations, but they also supply high-quality forklift parts and equipment!

In addition to regular servicing, KS Lift Trucks may also offer additional services to help you get the most out of your machine. These may include:

Operator training to ensure that your employees are operating the forklift safely and efficiently

Parts replacement services to ensure that you're using high-quality, properly fitted parts

Fleet management services to help you keep track of your forklifts and schedule regular maintenance

Your forklift is an essential part of your business operations and keeping it running smoothly is crucial for your success. Regular forklift servicing can help you catch problems early, prevent downtime, and ensure that your machine is operating safely and efficiently. Whether you need repairs, parts replacement, or regular maintenance, working with a qualified forklift servicing professional like KS Lift Trucks can help you get the most out of your machine and improve your bottom line!

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A Quick Guide on Forklift Thorough Examination

If you work in a warehouse or use forklift trucks daily, then you’ll want to read this post! Just like any other type of machinery or vehicle, safety is a number one priority, to keep you and everyone around you safe. Whether you work with forklifts yourself or know someone who operates them, then you should be aware of the dangers that forklifts can cause without the proper duty and care. I have created this blog post to explain the importance of forklift thorough examination and compliance with Health and Safety Executive guidance. Although this is quite a serious topic, I have produced a quick and easy guide, which should hopefully be a nice read.

Forklift thorough examinations are law, that is carried out to reduce the chances of injuries at work caused by forklifts. There are two examination procedures: LOLER 98 and PUWER 98, which should be conducted frequently to ensure your forklifts are safe to use. Many companies perform these examinations, click here.

Did you know? Over 1,500 injuries are caused by forklifts every year from incorrect handling and defective equipment. This can be reduced if you get your forklifts checked out!

So, what are LOLER 98 and PUWER 98?

LOLER 98 Examinations

LOLER 98 stands for Lifting Operations and Lift Equipment Regulations 1998 and is an examination that MUST be passed for forklifts to operate. It is a mandatory inspection that should be completed every year to ensure the forklift is safe to use. If you lift people, then it should be completed every 6 months or so. It is completed ensure that your lifting equipment is:

Strong and stable for safe usage.

Positioned and installed to reduce risks.

Used safely e.g. operated by competent people and the work is well planned out/organised.

PUWER 98 Examinations

PUWER 98 covers the mechanical components of your forklift truck, to determine whether is in good and safe condition. This examination stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which requires workplaces to properly install, use, inspect, and maintain machinery to ensure safety. Your forklift truck should have no defects or signs of deterioration, and all components including brakes, steering, and lifting mechanisms should be in excellent working condition. PUWER 98 has requirements which your forklift should follow:

The equipment is suitable for the intended use.

Should be in a safe condition and should be installed correctly with no potential deterioration.

It should only be used by competent people who have strong knowledge and training in working a forklift.

It should have installed protective devices and controls e.g. emergency stop devices, visible markings, warning devices, and so on.

Used in accordance with specific requirements

And that is it! If you operate with forklifts, maybe double check if you have these examinations completed, as they are law after all. Not only that, but you will also be ensuring that yourself and everyone around you are safe, and risk-free from any potential hazards. Even if you don’t work with forklifts, these thorough examinations should be completed on all lifting/warehouse equipment, it is not limited to only forklift trucks. If you would like to find out more information about these examinations or whether your equipment needs them, check out the HSE website.

https://kslifttrucks.co.uk

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The Most Common Forklift Attachments

Forklifts are fantastic pieces of machinery, used in many situations to manoeuvre heavy and bulky items around. Even when bought as a single unit, they can be used for many purposes but, did you know that you can purchase attachments to go with them? Yes, forklift trucks have a range of attachments, to make your job even easier! If you work with forklifts, you will definitely want to read this blog post. I have listed the common forklift attachments that you can find right now on the market, and how they can benefit you!

Many companies sell all sorts of forklift attachments including, hydraulic attachments, manual attachments, and weighing systems. Click here. I know it can be overwhelming and difficult to make decisions when there are so many accessories to choose from but, I am here to help. Listed below are the 10 most common forklift attachments, hopefully, one of these will be useful to you and the way you work. Forklift attachments can increase efficiency and productivity, whilst also ensuring everyone is safe at work. So, let’s get started…

Fork Positioners

Positioners are hydraulically powered, enabling the forks of the truck to move closer or further apart, which is useful for uneven or varied-sized pallets.

Advantages:

No manual adjustments

Reduced damage to forks and load

Improved handling times

Bale Grabs

If you work in the farming industry, bale grabs offer safe handling of hay/straw bales. They allow you to transport heavy bales easily and efficiently.

Advantages:

More efficient than manual loading/offloading

Keeps everything in place

Fork Extensions

Forklift extensions are designed to add that extra bit of length to your forks, to reach the loads that are a little harder and awkward to get.

Advantages:

Offers stability

Ensures materials are loaded safely

Side-shifters

Side-shifters are a very common forklift attachment, used to move loads from side to side. They enable you to make small adjustments to the orientation of the pallet, without having to move the entire forklift. They are very useful in tight spaces, to lift and place loads.

Advantages:

Reduced pallet and truck damage

Efficient

Improves utilisation of space

Reduced fuel consumption

Multiple Pallet Handlers

These handlers allow you to lift two pallets side by side, at the same time! Of course, you can still use them for a single load but, if you need to carry multiple pallets, they can be spread apart. They are ideal for navigating through narrow aisles, and they improve material handling efficiency.

Advantages:

Reduces loading/unloading times

Reduces forklift travel time

Boosts warehouse efficiency

Rotator

Rotators are a very innovative invention, that allows you to move the forks in a 360-degree revolving motion, in either direction. They are best employed for inverting and dumping loads, moving them safely and efficiently, with no manual movement.

Advantages:

Rotates in one smooth motion

Quick to invert loads

Paper Clamps

Do you handle products made out of paper? If yes, paper clamps are an excellent forklift attachment. This attachment allocates the perfect amount of pressure to transport paper materials, to avoid damage and crushing. These too can also be rotated 360 degrees for maximum capability.

Advantages:

Reduces the damage of paper products

Efficient

Can rotate 360 degrees

Improved grip when handling

Push and Pull Handlers

The push-pull forklift attachment is a cost-effective solution, to increase efficiency and productivity when handling materials on slip sheets.

Advantages:

Fast removal and installation

Slip sheets reduce the weight of loads

Easy to use with slip sheets

Man Baskets

Man baskets/cages can carry and lift more than one person to complete certain tasks. They have fork pockets for easy access, and they have handrails on all sides for grip.

Advantages:

Provides safety for people working at high levels

Provides stability

Lifting Jibs

Forklift jibs are a very clever little invention, that turns a forklift into a mini crane. It acts as a multi-purpose lifting device, used in warehouses to reach different heights.

Advantages:

Don’t need to purchase or hire a crane/cost-effective

Excellent lifting capacities

Ideal for numerous applications

These forklift attachments can be utilised in a range of industries, it's now up to you to choose which one is the best fit for you and your workforce. If you have enjoyed this piece, feel free to check out my other trucking posts.

https://kslifttrucks.co.uk

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The History of Forklift Trucks

Forklift trucks are crucial in any manufacturing business today, without them, the manpower you’d need to lift heavy objects would be nearing impossible. They allow for fast and efficient work processes with no need for workers to lift heavy items repeatedly which could cause long-term injury.

There are so many brands and types of forklift trucks now on the market, click here.

The lift truck has a long and interesting history, I’ll go through the notable moments in this article.

The Earliest Forklift Trucks

1867 - The earliest patent for a device that could lift materials and transport them was in 1867, it was built of wood with uprights, a cantilever platform and a hoist. This idea was not utilised for another 40 years…

1887 – A crude truck able to lift its platform a few inches off the ground was created. However, it was very weak and not widely available.

1909 – A steel version of the crude truck was created; it was stronger and commercially available. The lifting material was a solid sheet of metal compared to the ‘fork’ design we have today.

The First Ever Forklift

1917 – The Tructractor, often credited with being the first ever forklift, was introduced by The Clark Material Handling Company. The machine was the first type of seated counterbalanced vehicle and was used in warehouses and factories. Tructractors better resembled a modern tractor rather than a forklift today, the company weren’t originally going to sell these vehicles and they were just for use in their plant. However, when visitors saw them, they wanted to buy one. Clark began mass producing these vehicles as the demand got higher.

Evolution of the Forklift

1923 – Engineers at Yale University decided to evolve the Tructractor’s design, fitting a chain system to lift objects vertically and adding raising forks and an elevated mast. They were credited with the addition of the vertical lifting cantilever; the first electric trucks were therefore invented. The engineers used a ratchet and pinion system

1930s – There was one main issue with the Yale engineer’s design – some pallets were either too small or too large for their forklift to pick up. This changed when pallet sizes were standardised which cause the truck’s fork size, length and spacing to be standardised as well. The forklift had now gone mainstream.

1940s – World War II caused a higher demand for forklifts, with armies needing to load food, supplies and equipment onto wagons and ships. The UK imported forklifts from the US and then began to start manufacturing them in 1946 with Coventry Climax being the first to produce the trucks in the UK.  

The Advancement of the Forklift

1950s – The demand for forklifts skyrocketed after their value seen in the war, however, there was one issue with the vehicles – they were massive. They weren’t as easy to manoeuvre as people would like and didn’t reach high enough. Battery powered trucks then came out – they were a lot easier to manoeuvre in narrow warehouse aisles, allowing owners to store more products in their warehouse due to having narrower and higher aisles. Electric forklifts also meant that they weren’t producing any dangerous emissions, so they were safer for people’s health and friendlier to the environment.

1960s – The concern for safety in the workplace increased which meant the design of the forklift was no longer as modern as they thought. Many forklifts didn’t have a roof so were incredibly dangerous. Roofs were added to forklifts as well as backrests to prevent loads from falling backwards and cages to protect the operator. Forklifts were also created to be better balanced to prevent the number of accidents.

Lift Trucks Now

Forklifts have come a long way from the Tructractor, many have been advanced to feature an integrated computer system, allowing operators to scan barcodes, read RFID chips and view the warehouse inventory. Forklift trucks now feature a more comfortable design for the operator, smaller body designs to take up less space and some companies offer customisation so their clients can choose what they want their lift truck to be able to do.

And that is the history of forklift trucks, I hope you have enjoyed my first ever blog post!

https://kslifttrucks.co.uk/