The lifespan of most forklifts is between 10,000 to 12,000 hours of use, which equates to 5-6 years of full 8-hour operation. However, this can vary depending on a number of factors including the type of forklift, the brand, how well it is kept, as well as the type of application.
1. MAINTENANCE IS KEY
Forklifts require regular maintenance both as a preventative measure and to fix any existing wear and tear. Planned maintenance can help not only to protect your forklifts but your budget too. This may be day-to-day maintenance, to ensure your forklift is fully working as it should, or annual or bi-annual examinations. With the right maintenance and care, your forklift could last up to five years longer, making this step extremely important!
2. TRACKING AND TECHNOLOGY
Fleet tracking and technology can be a big asset when it comes to maintenance, helping you to control and analyse your fleet. No one wants to get an unexpected surprise of numerous repairs that need carrying out because damage has gone undetected. Tracking and technology can ensure these issues are detected early and that you don’t receive any unwelcome surprises later down the line!
3. DON’T FORGET TO MAINTAIN YOUR WAREHOUSE AND/OR YARD TOO!
Almost equally as important as maintaining your forklift, is to maintain the area you are using it in too. This sounds simple, but an area fraught with potholes, awkward layouts or safety hazards could be a recipe for disaster as far as forklift care is concerned. Ensure you carry out regular checks of your operation area, removing any hazards and ensuring a clear, simple route for your Forklift. This will prevent any unnecessary damage and potentially expensive repairs.
4. TRAIN STAFF ON HOW TO USE YOUR FORKLIFTS
Ensure staff are trained on how to correctly operate the forklift. They should also be aware of Forklift best practices. This can help prevent damage caused by collisions, tip-overs, as well as general user fault.
5. CONSIDER ROTATING YOUR FLEETS TO COMBAT ENVIRONMENTAL WEAR AND TEAR
The environment that Forklifts are operated in has a massive impact on their life expectancy. It is true that you can have two forklifts of exactly the same age (in years), with vastly different life expectancies! Forklifts operated indoors in clean conditions will last a lot longer than those exposed to extreme temperatures or heavy loads.
One solution for this is to swap your indoor and outdoor fleets every few months to ensure they wear at the same rate, therefore making the equipment age at a more similar rate.
The most recommended way to ensure your forklift lasts as long as possible is maintenance. This can avoid unexpected repairs and costs, as well as accidents. At WMH we have fully qualified forklift engineers who are trained to identify potential risks and/or issues with your equipment that if left and not attended to swiftly could turn into a larger problem later on.
To find out more about Welfaux forklift maintenance or to book an appointment, contact us
here.