FEATURE LIFTING EQUIPMENT
MEZZANINE GOODS LIFT versus traditional forklift truck
Which option is most effective: a mezzanine goods lift or a lift truck? Rebecca Dilloway-Jones from Advanced Handling offers 10 reasons you might consider switching to a goods lift
M
ezzanine floors are a great way to maximise space but what is the best
way of lifting goods between them? While both mezzanine goods lifts and forklifts avoid manual handling and the risk of injury, which one is more effective for your organisation?
POOR SAFETY RECORD OF FORKLIFTS The use of a forklift to lift can increase the risk of accident if the item were to fall when raised at height. In 2016 the FLTA reported that forklift trucks were involved in over 800 accidents in the UK in 2015. Items in a goods lift are secure and safe with no risk of items falling, causing injury to workers or damage to goods.
BUILT-IN SAFETY FEATURES Mezzanine goods lifts have built-in safety features including interlocked gates that prevent opening when the lift is not in the correct place; push to run controls and emergency stop buttons, manual emergency lowering and overload sensors.
PACKAGING AND PALLETISING Loads do not need to be palletised or packed ready for safe lifting for a goods lift as required when using a forklift, saving time, effort and packaging costs.
SPACE REQUIREMENTS More space is required to manoeuvre a forklift to lift goods from one floor to
Maintenance of a mezzanine goods lift is often confined to a yearly service at minimal cost
another. Mezzanine goods lifts occupy a very small footprint.
LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY The forklift may be in use for other applications when lifting between mezzanine floors is required, leaving staff waiting and a loss of productivity while a vehicle and qualified driver are found.
TRAINING Familiarisation training required for the operation of a goods lift can be easily carried out by the supplier as opposed to expensive and time-consuming fork lift driver training and licencing.
LOWER LIFETIME COST Forklifts are a more expensive option in the long term, requiring many regulatory checks due to their poor safety record. In addition, the costs of driver qualification are ongoing. Maintenance costs of a mezzanine goods lift are minimal and frequently confined to a yearly service.
BESPOKE LIFTS AVAILABLE Goods lifts can be supplied custom-built to suit the customer’s individual application. For instance, rollers can be added if needed to slide boxes on and off or if the lift needs to stop at waist height to allow the operator to more easily transfer the goods, this can easily be programmed in.
EXISTING WORKLOAD If the requirement is frequent and the company has a forklift for existing operations the vehicle will be stopped from carrying out its workload, causing further delay and loss of productivity.
ONE-STOP SERVICE Most mezzanine goods lifts are supplied as fully compliant with UK regulations. Many suppliers offer ongoing maintenance and serving and advice on health and safety.
Advanced Handling T: 01778 345365
www.advancedhandling.co.uk
LPG SUPPLIER LAUNCHES BESPOKE ENERGY PLAN SERVICE
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier AvantiGas has launched a bespoke service for the forklift industry offering a tailored energy plan to increase efficiency, reduce costs and boost health and safety standards. The Complete Forklift Truck LPG Solution has been devised to deliver the safest, most cost effective and flexible solution for forklift operators and owners regardless of fleet size. AvantiGas is dedicating a team of account managers to examine the needs of businesses in every department and work closely with floor managers to create the best possible energy solution in this rapidly growing market. An initial three-point report addressing fuel and distribution needs, health and safety considerations and a heat usage consultation is followed by advice on the most relevant products, cylinder and bulk options, installation and maintenance recommendations. To mark the launch, AvantiGas has released a free downloadable safety guide for FLT users offering step-by-step advice on staying safe and legal when handling LPG. “Advanced in-house forecasting technology which predicts how much fuel is required by our customers and how often is constantly reviewed by our
S4 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
dedicated account managers,” says commercial manager Andrew Mann. “We make practical recommendations on how to cut down on heat and energy spend and use our expertise to help end users to make significant improvements to safety records. Our free Guide is full of tips from how best to store LPG to the correct PPE to wear during refuelling.” Producing significantly less carbon dioxide and air pollutants than most other fuels, LPG is a cleaner, greener energy source with many advantages over diesel including increased fuel efficiency, long-term cost savings and reduced potential for spillage and contamination. Its high calorific value means it can carry heavy loads without losing power and produces less noise and vibration than diesel-fuelled trucks. “After installation a maintenance programme for each site will be drawn up and include yearly system inspections and on-the-spot checks with each delivery including replacement of equipment damaged by wear and tear.”
AvantiGas T: 0808 208 0000
www.avantigas.com
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