Hottest forklift trends for 2008 and beyond

Purchasing a forklift involves more than just taking it for a test drive or reviewing the warranty information. You also want to make sure you have access to the latest features that can save you time or money, make facilities more efficient, and help protect the environment.

BuyerZone's network of forklift dealers stays on top of the newest industry trends. Several of our dealers shared these great examples of the latest forklift features and how they can benefit your business.

Going green

Many businesses want forklifts that can get the job done without harming the environment.

"Forklift manufacturers are spending a lot of money on research and development to make their forklifts environmentally friendly," explains Todd Yandell, Sales Manager for Lonestar Forklift in Houston, Texas. "The goal is to develop forklifts that are Tier III compliant, which adhere to EPA regulations for forklifts with the lowest emissions."

Bill Leavitt, Vice President of Sales for New England Industrial Truck in Woburn, Massachusetts believes forklift dealers who can provide the most "green-friendly" trucks will likely win over customers.

"New low-emission forklifts will continue to become more popular as customers seek out green technology," says Leavitt. "One example is alternating current (AC) technology. Instead of an engine that releases emissions into the air, AC technology features a long-running battery that requires fewer charges and is more energy efficient."

Enlisting outside help for customers

While there is an immediate push in the forklift industry to go green, a trend that could emerge a few years from now is bringing in outside help to work customers through their problems.

"More customers will rely on third-party logistic providers in the future," says Stan Sewell, President of Barloworld Handling in Charlotte, North Carolina. "These are industry players we would bring in to directly help our customers with truck fleets for their warehouses or inventory management solutions."

"Creating" additional storage space

Warehouse employees struggling to find available space on the floor may benefit from an indoor forklift.

"Three-wheel sitdown electric forklifts are versatile for warehouse use," explains Matt Philipopoulos from the Eldorado Forklift Company in Menlo Park, California. "Since many warehouses install racking systems to make the most of limited space, this lift truck can easily maneuver around these systems and other narrow areas. This purchase allows warehouse owners to ‘go vertical' and store additional product above ground in previously hard-to-reach spaces."

Improving battery charging efficiency

The traditional method for replacing forklift batteries takes a lot of time and requires you to store multiple batteries for a single forklift. Fast-charge or opportunity-charge batteries eliminate the need to constantly swap batteries from the truck to the charger.

"Instead of doing a full recharge of the battery at the end of the day (which gets the battery very hot), you can fast-charge the battery whenever the truck is not in use," says David A. Dunaj of Blue Water Lift Truck Service in Kimball, Michigan.

"This helps eliminate the need for time-consuming daily charges. While this is a costly purchase ($3,500 for opportunity-charge batteries; $15,000 for fast charge batteries), you can save money in the long run vs. gas-powered models that can cost several hundred dollars monthly just for fuel costs."

Richard Cole, Sales Manager of Dyna-Lift of Florida has other thoughts about the battery issue.

"Hydrogen fuel cell technology is what many in the industry are waiting for," says Cole. "When it's readily available, it will eliminate the use of standard lead-acid batteries and provide quicker refueling for extended forklift use."

For more information about hydrogen fuel cells and other forklift trends, view our exclusive forklift purchasing videos.

Want to work with forklift dealers who offer the latest technology? Submit a free forklifts request for quotes and get matched to similar companies that will help you make an informed purchasing decision.

Comments