Handling Equipment: 4 Tips to Consider When Buying Your New Warehouse Equipment

Warehouses form the core of many businesses. The warehouse is essentially a large building where various raw materials and/or goods are stored and where, from this location, these items are then distributed to their required location. In order to enable the safe and effective transportation of these items, handling equipment is often required. This is because many of these items are either too large or too heavy to be safely carried by individual members of your workforce, or even collectively. Therefore, it is essential, in order to get the most out of both your workforce and you warehouse, to provide appropriate handling equipment. When buying warehouse equipment, here are four key tips to keep in mind.

1.      The equipment should fit your requirements

There is no shortage of handling equipment available which is suitable for use within a warehouse. However, it is essential to discern from the mass of equipment available which items fit your specific requirements. In the case of the pallet truck, what is the maximum lift you require? What is the maximum safe weight allowance you require? Do you need a manual pallet truck or an electronic one? Take care to ensure you select your equipment based on the suitability of their specifications and not merely on the price tag.

2.      Try to select handling equipment which can perform multiple functions

A number of pieces of handling equipment are able to effectively fulfil multiple roles. This is an excellent way of saving costs and space within your warehouse. To demonstrate, many stackers can also function equally well as vehicles to move pallets. Alternatively, Heavy Duty Mesh Sided Trolleys can be effectively used to transport a wide variety of goods around the warehouse, and are equally efficient for use in the loading bay.

3.      The selected equipment should be easy to use and maintain

If your selected piece of equipment cannot be easily used and quickly implemented into your workforce, then the investment has been futile. In order to be efficient, handling equipment needs to increase productivity, otherwise it may be of detriment to your warehouse. When buying handling equipment, consider how easy it will be for your workforce to operate. It is also important to discern whether any specific training will be required for your workforce to operate it. Also take the time to establish how easily the equipment can be maintained and, if worst comes to worst, how easily it can be repaired. The answers to these questions may well make dividends in months and years to come.

4.      Consult an expert prior to your purchase

Before purchasing your item or items of handling equipment, consult an expert for their opinion. This is a good way of ensuring that your planned purchase is suitable for the role in which you intend to use it. At Handling Equipment Online, we pride ourselves on the expert, customer-focussed opinion which our technical team provide.