Forklifts are a crucial part of the industrial business world. Heavy cargo transportation can be used in almost all commercial or manufacturing operations that need heavy cargo transportation. Forklifts can lift up to 10,000 pounds at once, which is beneficial when it comes to transporting heavy materials around your work area.
But, how is the purchase price for this essential equipment determined? What factors are there when it comes to the cost of Forklifts? This article will tackle the answer to those questions.
What Is A Forklift?
A forklift is a machine that has the ability to lift and maneuver things. For example, it can be used for moving and stacking goods in warehouses and factories. Forklifts are also often called ‘lorries,’ which look like small flat trucks with two forks instead of wheels on one side. Forklift drivers drive vehicles with long metal prongs or fingers on these forks, thus lifting and carrying objects simultaneously. Forklift operators need to be well aware of the risks involved in the job because they are often required to follow strict safety rules. Forklifts are classified according to their capacity, power supply, lifting heights, and other factors. The variety ranges from small truck-mounted types to large stand-on types.
Why Use A Forklift?
Forklifts are used in warehouses and factories for lifting pallets, cartons, sacks of goods, etc., to enable workers to place them on conveyor belts or stacking areas. It ensures that goods are easily accessible without the need for human labor. Workers can now stack goods where it is more convenient instead of piling them up wherever space is available. These forklifts can shift heavier items without requiring extra manpower. Forklifts make sure that less time and effort is employed to move items around facilities, resulting in more productivity. Machines rather than humans handle objects, and this helps maintain safety standards.
Private companies are increasingly using forklifts. They are useful for carrying heavy objects inside warehouses or even in homes. Forklifts provide a very efficient means of moving heavy items around, which is certainly not an easy task without them. Such lifting devices have revolutionized the industrial world with the ease and smoothness of lifting and transporting objects from one place to another.
Forklift Price Factors
Most forklift manufacturers have standard pricing factors that affect their prices even before looking for a specific model. These factors include:
Manufacturer And Model
Most of the time, higher-priced models offer more options compared to lower ones, so if there’s something particular about a specific product that you want with your forklift – talk to a dealer about it or check out manufacturer websites.
Price Of The Forklift Truck
Forklifts that are in good shape would cost more than forklifts in poor condition. You can use this to your advantage when buying. If you find a second-hand forklift truck in good working condition, ask the seller if he would consider lowering his offer price.
Price Of The Engine
Manufacturers consider diesel engines more expensive than gasoline since diesel is more costly to produce, and it is also difficult to get certified for Euro IV emission standards using diesel engines. On the other hand, gasoline engine models only require passing the Euro III standard, which is cheaper and easier to get done. With regards to performance, though, a gas engine has a higher power density but a lower torque, while a diesel engine has a lower power density but higher torque.
Fuel Price
Forklift trucks are used to carry heavy items around the warehouses of plants and factories, so it is natural for them to consume high amounts of fuel in their daily operations. Unless you have an electricity supply available at your plant’s location, which forklifts can directly utilize, they will need gas or diesel to function well. Gas prices often fluctuate while diesel price remains more stable. Diesel engines emit less carbon dioxide than gasoline engines, making them generally considered safer on the environment.
Price Of Maintenance And Operating Costs
Because forklifts on average run 8 hours per day with an average speed of 4mph, they are bound to have high maintenance costs. Maintenance cost factors include tire, engine oil or grease, batteries, hydraulic fluid, and filters.
Taxes And Insurance
Like any other equipment you need to purchase for your business operations, forklifts are taxable depending on the government’s tax policies. Also, keep in mind that businesses that operate with their forklift trucks may be required to pay insurance premiums.
Number Of Usage Hours
Hours of usage factor affects the life expectancy and reliability of forklift trucks. The more it is used, the faster its parts will deteriorate. In addition to this, factors such as ambient temperature and humidity can affect lift truck service, resulting in a shorter lifespan.
Specialized Specifications
If you’re going to buy a sit-down electric lift truck, make sure that it has a low voltage system required for warehouse use. If you would like to have rough terrain or rough street non-marking tire forklift truck so your floors won’t get damaged while moving heavy cargo around, ask the supplier if they offer these types of options.
New Or Used Forklift
You should always buy new equipment, but used forklifts can be a good option depending on your business condition. For example, if you need a specific model of forklift and the only ones available are second-hand models, and you don’t mind buying them as long as they function well and have low-cost maintenance fees, then consider getting second-hand lift trucks. However, when it comes to factors that affect price, through tax policies or conditions, they won’t apply to aftermarket forklift trucks, so pay attention when comparing new and used equipment prices before signing anything.
Price Of The Forklift’s Certification
Certification factors can be costly since the cost of testing and complying with safety regulations will add up. For example, if you buy a sit-down lift truck model from an international supplier, ensure they provide valid certification on their equipment for European countries’ standards such as CE or TUV. Certain business operations cannot use equipment that does not meet these requirements.
Delivery Services
Forklifts are generally tricky to transport due to their size and weight, so some companies prefer using forklift transport services instead of meeting customer requests directly through customized delivery options. There is also the benefit of the seller covering the buyer’s transportation costs when they deliver the truck to you instead of the buyer needing to pay for transportation fees.
Forklift Terms
When you’re buying a new forklift, you consider many factors, including the factors related to the equipment itself. For example, engine size, battery chemistry type, or weight are all factors that can have an impact on truck pricing. Therefore, it’s important to do some brief research before meeting with suppliers so you’ll be able to get more accurate quotes when you contact them by phone or email.
Choosing The Best Value Forklift
Once you’ve considered factors that affect forklifts, it’s time to prioritize factors that matter more for your business operations. For example, if you have a high gas price, then size, warranty period, and maintenance fees are less important. If you recently opened in an area with harsh weather and short lift trucks, factors affecting pricing are less important than those that improve the product life.
After all, those factors don’t matter much when you buy low-quality equipment that can’t work well amid harsh working conditions.
Make A Budget
This is the first step when choosing factors that can affect forklift prices. As mentioned earlier, factors affecting price range from tax policies to conditions of your business’s location. Your budget will determine which factors you must consider in your purchase decision. Make sure that you consider tax factors, too, since most factors are subject to state and local laws on taxes.
Get Free Quotes From Forklift Suppliers
Before buying a product, inquire about the cost by talking with the supplier to make an informed decision.
Compare Forklift Prices
It would be best if you compared factors that affect the forklift price of different models. This allows you to determine factors that can influence price most significantly. Again, factors considered can be among several factors affecting cost significantly. Compare these factors with the quote from each supplier before making a purchase decision.
Forklift Loans
This is another essential factor to consider providing your business with funds for purchasing forklifts. If you don’t have the money for multiple forklift trucks, consider taking out a loan from a bank. The interest rate and loan terms can also affect costs, so calculate them before signing any contract.
To calculate lift truck operating costs, you should weigh factors like lift truck specs and operating conditions against each other.
Conclusion
When factors of forklift price are diverse, it is vital to prioritize factors that truly matter for your business operations. Factors affecting forklift truck prices include lift truck price, performance, and quality.
With this information, you can compare the prices of your new or used forklifts. When it comes to factors that influence the pricing of new or used forklifts, buyers can always save costs. Also, keep in mind factors like delivery fees and discounts offered by some companies.
