Trucks and Trolleys Industry Focus: Manufacturing and Warehouses
Warehouses are probably the first type of workplace you think of when you think about premises where pallet trucks and trolleys need to be used, and for good reason. Most warehouses and factories produce goods, and goods are frequently delivered, and dispatched, so staff need a safe, efficient, and reliable way of moving items from one place to another, or of lifting goods on and off trucks.
They can be used for storage purposes too, and to get rid of the vast amount of packaging and other waste that is generated on industrial premises.
Types of equipment used in a warehouse
These are an essential item in a warehouse, where heavy pallets need to be lifted and moved. They are safe, durable, and versatile pieces of equipment.
Lifting heavy or awkward items, especially at heights can be difficult and often dangerous. Lifts and platforms can take some of the risk out of these tasks.
Trucks and Trolleys
Trucks often carry heavy items such as cylinders or drums, and some need to be able to be taken up stairs. They are often foldable and can fit into a small space so they are not taking up unnecessary floor space, or creating an obstruction. They can also carried hundreds of kilos of items which makes them ideal for industrial environments.
Some trucks can be folded and stored for space-saving advantages while others are designed to carry specific items such as cylinders and drums. There are even models intended to negotiate stairs.
The features a good trolley or truck needs to have:
- A robust frame
- Larger wheels (helpful if having to negotiate steps)
- Castors fitted in the corners to improve stability
- Good quality wheels and wheel bearings built to withstand high/low temperatures and industrial cleaning
How to choose a truck or trolley for your warehouse?
Choosing the right equipment for moving and handling heavy goods reduces the risk of injuries and reduces the risk of expensive goods being damaged. When looking for the right piece of equipment, make sure that it will be able to cope with the weight of the items you want to lift and move, and make sure that it’s suited to the environment of the premises it will be used in.
Loads and floor surface will determine your choice of wheels
For lifting and moving heavy loads on hard and smooth floors, pallet trucks with easy rolling nylon wheels are a good choice. If you have uneven floors/ground you should choose polyurethane or rubber wheels, because they are more durable, they can be used outdoors, and they make light work of going over uneven surfaces.
Tandem wheels (dual wheels) distribute the load over a bigger surface area, which means more stability and less wear on floors. They are also good if you have to negotiate ramps. If, however, you’re moving lighter loads on level ground, a single wheel set up is fine.
Choose the pallet truck fork length depending on the goods and the size of your warehouse
Pallets come in different sizes so you need to have suitable fork lengths. For a standard-sized pallet, a fork length of 1150 mm is enough. However, if the goods are housed in a confined area such as a small warehouse, where there is not much room to turn a truck around, a fork length of 810mm is better. Choose fork extensions and longer forks if you need to lift much larger pallets.
Do you need to lift goods onto pallet racking?
A standard pallet truck is fine for low lifting and moving heavy goods at ground level. But if you need to lift goods higher, for example onto pallet racking, then a stacker would be more suitable. Manually operated and electric models are available in many weight capacities and heights.
A stacker can also protect your back when loading and unloading goods from a vehicle since you can raise and lower goods to a height where you won’t have to bend unnecessarily.
Stay safe tips!
Only move one cage at a time
move the cage no faster than walking speed
wherever possible push the cage as this is ergonomically better than pulling it
seek help on ramps and uneven surfaces
stack heavier items at the bottom to lower the centre of gravity
do not load above the load line or above the level where the operator can see over the load.