MATERIALS HANDLING & PROCESSING
NAVIGATING YOUR LIFT TRUCK CHOICES
How to choose a lift truck for your processing and manufacturing operations, by Robert O’Donoghue, Global Director - Product Management
Counterbalance 1-3.5t, for Yale Lift Truck Technologies
hat should be considered when selecting new lift trucks for processing and manufacturing operations? Price continues to be a critical factor, along with characteristics that impact on uptime, like quality, parts availability, and service response time. To maximise the value of lift truck investments, it is important to select the best equipment to suit your operational needs. Here are some things to consider. 1. Purchase price and specific performance or productivity features
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What can buyers do to get the best value? Tailor equipment to the operation’s unique standards. Custom typically implies expensive, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If an operation carefully considers the essential features and functions it demands from its lift trucks and can allow unnecessary extras to fall by the wayside, the company may be able to achieve a better return on its investment. The challenge is, operations don’t always have the opportunity to only get what they need, so it’s important for potential buyers/lessees to look for manufacturers whose equipment gives customers the flexibility to opt up – or not – based on what their business requires. Staying clear of unnecessary options can allow investment in the features that provide the most value to their operations. For example, businesses that need operators to pick and place high-value items at height with great frequency may prioritise upward visibility and precision. If these companies have realised savings elsewhere in the truck acquisition process, they may have more to allocate to specialised features that can help support those particular needs, such as a clear glass roof or fork laser level line. 2. Quality of lift trucks and parts availability Lower-quality lift truck equipment with sluggish lift and lower speeds can undermine productivity and throughput. Likewise,
32 OCTOBER 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
equipment with poor manoeuvrability can make it more challenging for operators to navigate tight spaces efficiently and without causing damage.
Consider the relationship between the quality of lift trucks and parts, and the total cost of ownership. Equipment that is not high quality may be more likely to require replacement parts or frequent repairs, which can quickly become costly. Operations must further account for lost productivity stemming from associated downtime.
Reducing that potential service burden can help alleviate costs, so it’s essential to consider equipment durability, maintenance requirements and fuel efficiency when choosing between lift truck options. Lastly, keep in mind the cost and availability of replacement parts. Understand how well the dealer keeps replacement parts from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) readily available and reasonably priced. 3. Safety
Lift truck safety begins with comprehensive operator training. However, businesses can also prioritise their commitment to safety through equipment with technology solutions that help reinforce operating best practices and better
enable them to audit operator performance. For instance, an advanced operator assist system (OAS) like Yale Reliant can help support lift truck operator awareness. It can implement truck performance limitations, based on truck stability, facility rules, and more, depending on the system configuration. A lift truck stability system can help support stable operation. Operational safety requires continuous attention and assessment. Another technology, telemetry, can help companies manage operator behaviour by providing supervisors with impact detection and other data associated with operator performance. 4. Service Response Time
Another important consideration is service response time, which is inherently aligned with the relationship with the local dealer. Service response time is an increasingly critical ingredient for fast-paced warehouse operations working to maintain a high degree of equipment uptime.
In addition to providing replacement parts, in many cases the dealers are the ones to provide local service support, in a relationship that extends far beyond the initial transaction when the purchase or lease is finalised. It’s important to be able to draw upon comprehensive local technician support from an extensive network of entrepreneurial dealers who are independent, responsive and effective. This should be accompanied by access to the engineers and industry experts at the OEM, for cases that require additional reinforcement.
Whether it’s the addition or replacement of a single truck, or a whole fleet for a new facility, lift truck acquisitions deserve careful consideration. A trusted expert can help buyers navigate the process.
Yale Lift Truck Technologies
www.yale.com
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