Industry

7 Ways a Forklift Will Revolutionize Your Small Business

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Small business owners know the challenges of moving heavy equipment and machinery. When a delivery comes, it’s usually dropped off outside and you then need to move it. Sometimes you may have very heavy objects such as long bars of steel or perhaps a large crate. But, how can you move them quickly and efficiently? The answer is that you need to invest in a forklift. Sure, you can always use something smaller or borrow one from the business owner next door. Though, sometimes that’s not always possible. Here are seven ways a forklift will help you.

1# Easy to Use:

A forklift is one of the easiest types of lifting equipment to use for heavy objects. All you need to do is drive the forks underneath and lift them with a control panel at the driver’s seat. You can move things that weigh tons in a matter of seconds.

2# You Can Get Back to Work Faster:

If you can move things quickly, you can get back to work faster and reduce the amount of wasted time. When you’re working for yourself and employ others, time management and being efficient is essential. Without using machinery, it may take several hours to do a job that should take 15 minutes. This means that your company will be more productive in the future and generate a higher profit.

3# A Forklift is an Asset:

You may not realize it, but a forklift is an asset to your own company. This has many advantages including giving you flexibility, not having to pay rent, and being able to sell when you’re finished with the forklift.

4# You Can Deliver Jobs Faster:

Renting a forklift has many disadvantages. You have to rely on the rental company to deliver and collect it, which wastes time and reduces productivity. This may be a problem when you need to send off work ASAP. Sometimes it can take hours or even days to have access to one when you’re in desperate need and can be very stressful to you and your employees. But, if you have your own forklift, you can move the heavy objects around on your terms that in turn speeds up your delivery.

5# Owning One May Be More Affordable than you Think:

You don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a brand new machine fresh off the production life. Second hand and used ones are equally useful and cost a fraction of the price. Some like to buy ones that are faulty and can then replace the parts themselves. For example, you may buy one with damaged mobile column lifts for much lower than if it was in full working order. You can then simply replace the faulty parts and the forklift is ready to use.

6# Consider Splitting the Cost:

This is related to the point above. If you’re in an industrial park with a few other businesses around, why not talk to them about splitting the cost. This can significantly reduce the costs and everyone can use it whenever they need to move. Sometimes this works, other times it doesn’t. But it’s worth looking into and you could get one for a tiny price with all the benefits.

7# Safety:

The final point is probably the most important. Trying to lift things that are too heavy for your body is a recipe for disaster. People damage their back or dislocate joints, which would put them out of work for several weeks or longer. This is a disaster for productivity if it’s you or one of your employees. When you get a forklift, you can safely know that the heavy objects will be taken care of in the right way with a minimal risk of injury.

The Bottom Line:

Owning a forklift for your small business has many advantages that can both save time and increase productivity whilst reducing the risk of injuries. And getting one may not be as expensive as you thought.

If you have any questions, please ask below!