There are forklifts for many applications, but moving machines is always a particular challenge. To accomplish such a task, the driver not only needs a great deal of experience and skill. An optimally suited forklift truck is also required. A number of criteria must therefore be taken into account when choosing a forklift truck.
ONE STACKER FOR ALL CASES – BUT WHICH ONE?
Few vehicles are as versatile and versatile as forklifts. As a result, they are ready for use in a wide variety of situations and can be used in a wide variety of conditions.
The requirements can also vary greatly within one area of application – for example, when relocating machines in mechanical and plant engineering. From the working environment to the dimensions of the respective machine, this type of task often requires very different requirement profiles. Machine tools, drive technology, conveyors, construction and building material machines, pumps, compressors, food processing machines and many other products in the industry have their own specific requirements for safe, smooth and efficient transportation.
However, selecting the right forklift truck is a key factor for successful completion. Numerous criteria and equipment features must be taken into account. We explain what is important in detail.
DEFINE TASK AREA
The first step is to clarify what a forklift truck should actually do. Although it is the most obvious selection criterion, the load to be transported is only one aspect of many. Accordingly, a number of questions need to be clarified in order to better define a suitable forklift truck.
Questions about the load
- Which load carriers are to be relocated? While Euro pallets can be easily moved with a simple forklift truck, large, fully assembled machines pose a much greater challenge.
- It is not just about the greater weight, but also about the completely different dimensions. Another important question in this context is: How can a machine be lifted in the first place? Is it possible to get under the structure in question with a forklift truck? Are eyelets available to lift the machine using chains?
Questions about performance capacity
- How heavy is the load to be transported?
- What is the expected handling capacity, i.e. how many goods must the truck be able to transport within a certain time window? This is also related to the question of how long the truck should remain in operation without interruption.
- At what working height must the loads be transported and moved? The greater the height to be reached, the greater the challenge for the stability of the vehicle, for example.
Questions about the location
- Do special conditions on site need to be taken into account? For example, a distinction must be made between indoor and outdoor locations. Floor conditions (level – uneven, smooth – rough, etc.) also have a major impact on the requirements profile of a forklift truck.
- What aisle width can be expected? Maneuvering heavy loads in confined spaces with little freedom of movement (e.g. in narrow aisles) is a much more complex task than in spacious locations.
- Are there additional requirements at the place of use, such as working in a clean room, a dusty environment, the presence of hazardous substances, etc.?
As the requirements differ from case to case, these criteria must be checked individually in each case. The weighting of the individual aspects can vary completely from location to location, from task to task – with correspondingly different requirements for the right forklift truck.
LOCATION AND MOTOR TYPE
When it comes to the installation site, it is not only its dimensions that play a role or the question. An important aspect revolves around the question of whether the planned machine relocations are to be carried out indoors or outdoors – and whether there may be smooth transitions.
This is always the case, for example, when machines have to be transported to another location for a company relocation or for transportation from production to the destination. In many cases, the machines in question then have to be moved from their original location outside and loaded onto a truck. In such circumstances, it is not only different surfaces that are relevant.
It is much more a question of which motor types are actually suitable. After all, the place of use is a decisive factor when selecting a suitable drive type.
| Motor type | Characteristics |
| Electric motor | Advantages:
The electric motor produces no harmful emissions, making electric forklifts ideal for indoor areas such as production halls or warehouses. Disadvantages: Compared to combustion engines, the performance is often weaker. This means, among other things, that all activities and routes must be taken into account so that the battery does not give up prematurely. Without a replacement battery, charging times can severely disrupt the operating flow. The sensitive electronics also mean that an electric forklift is only suitable for outdoor use to a limited extent. |
| Diesel engine | Advantages:
Diesel forklifts are widely used due to their performance. Front, off-road and heavy-duty forklifts in particular work with combustion engines. They also cope comparatively well with uneven surfaces. Disadvantages: The exhaust fumes from diesel forklifts significantly restrict their use in indoor areas. This is only possible under special conditions, such as the use of particle filters or efficient building ventilation. |
| Gas engine | Advantages:
Similar to diesel forklifts, gas-powered models are generally cheaper than comparable electric forklifts. There is also a certain degree of flexibility because different types of gas can be used (propane/butane, LPG or natural gas). There are also no restrictions on indoor use for forklifts powered by LPG and natural gas. Disadvantages: Trucks powered by propane/butane cannot be used for indoor applications. The corresponding infrastructure must be available for refueling with natural gas, which again drives up the costs. Depending on the requirements profile, it is therefore important to look closely at which gas drive is suitable for the respective situation. |
STACKER FEATURES: PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO EVERY TASK
Forklifts are adaptable in every respect and offer a wide range of different features and configurations, not just when it comes to the choice of engine. From the vehicle dimensions and load capacity to the tires, forklifts with the right equipment can be found for every situation.
Dimensions
The performance, load capacity and dimensions of industrial trucks are directly related. This means that the more powerful the truck, the larger it usually is.
When choosing a forklift truck, it is therefore not just a question of finding a vehicle that can actually handle the machines to be moved. The forklift trucks must also have sufficient space for maneuvering and driving. In fact, many special forklifts are designed to combine high performance with a compact design – as far as this is technically possible.
The MARCUS MecLift 1821R, for example, is a heavy-duty forklift with a load capacity of up to 18 tons – and with its dimensions it can still unload conventional 20-foot containers without any problems.
Load capacity
The performance, load capacity and dimensions of industrial trucks are directly related: the more powerful the truck, the larger and heavier it is. With heavy-duty and counterbalanced trucks, the total weight of the truck and the load to be moved can easily reach the three-digit ton range.
In order to find the right forklift truck for the right environment, it must therefore also be taken into account. The building floor must be able to bear the total load of the forklift’s own weight together with the load of the machines. What may not be a problem for ground-level systems becomes a challenge when moving machines to higher floors.
Lifting height
When it comes to lifting height, there are two main areas of application for the forklift truck:
- transport close to the ground with transport up to a height of around 3 meters and
- Warehouse activities with high racks up to a height of 12 meters or more.
The main difference for the equipment is that a mast is usually required above a certain lifting height. Special forklift trucks have their very own variants of lift masts. The MARCUS Versa-Lift 40/60, for example, is equipped with a three-part hydraulic crane arm. This enables a hook height of almost 8 meters to be achieved.
Tires
The tires of a forklift truck are far more than just a detail, they are a decisive factor in terms of work safety and performance. The fundamental difference lies between tires for indoor and outdoor use.
Uneven surfaces, weather-related influences (wet, slippery, etc.) or differences in height in outdoor areas place a greater load on the tires and therefore on the truck. The solution under such conditions is usually pneumatic tires with a large profile to provide the necessary traction and suspension. For smooth floors in production halls and similar facilities, these requirements apply to a much lesser extent.
| Tire type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Pneumatic tires | – Different versions offer more flexibility
– best suspension – high traction – long service life – suitable for uneven surfaces and outdoor use |
– high maintenance requirements (air pressure check)
– susceptible to damage (e.g. from foreign objects in the tread) and therefore cost-intensive – only allow a low lifting height |
| Super-elastic tires | – Puncture-proof and robust with low wear
– enable high load capacity and lifting height – good shock and vibration damping |
– Poorer damping than pneumatic tires, therefore not suitable for outdoor use
– Higher fuel consumption due to greater rolling resistance |
| Polyurethane tires | – good cushioning thanks to flexible polyurethane foam
– maintenance-free and puncture-proof – low weight – leave no marks on the road surface |
– Poorer damping than pneumatic tires, therefore not suitable for outdoor use
– Higher fuel consumption due to greater rolling resistance |
| Solid rubber tires | – puncture-proof and (virtually) maintenance-free
– low wear with high mileage – enable high load capacity and lifting height |
– Low traction and suspension
– Only for use on smooth surfaces – Maximum travel speed is limited |
Independent draft legislation for handling data and artificial intelligence
laws to a much greater extent than in the MVO. The EU Commission is working on two new laws in this regard:
- The “Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonized rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act)” has been under negotiation since 2021. Among other things, it defines various areas of application and risk classes on the basis of which the placing on the market, commissioning and use of AI products are to be regulated.
Due to the strong overlap between machines and the use of AI, there is a possibility that market participants will have to take both regulations into account in the future.
- The European Data Act is intended to facilitate access to data on the one hand and create clear regulations with regard to usage rights on the other. The aim is to facilitate the wider use of industrial data. The Data Act lays the legal foundations to clearly define rights and obligations for users, producers and data owners.
It remains to be seen exactly how these laws will affect companies in practice. Similar to the EU Machinery Regulation, the final versions of the two EU laws are still pending.
MACHINE RELOCATION: A TASK FOR SPECIALISTS
Moving a large and heavy machine is always a challenging task – one for special vehicles. In addition to special forklifts, various cranes or air cushion transport technology can also be used for transportation, depending on the situation and requirements.
For complex machine transports, the variety of industrial trucks means that there are suitable solutions for all conceivable requirements. In many cases, the use of special vehicles is not the only way to meet these requirements.
After all, a smooth process also requires a great deal of experience in handling special forklifts and the machines to be moved. Marcus Transport combines an extensive fleet of vehicles with decades of experience in machine transportation – including individual planning with suitable vehicle solutions for almost every situation.
Image 1: Adobe Stock © romaset
Image 2: Adobe Stock © thomaslerchphoto
Image 3: Adobe Stock © industrieblick
Image 4: Adobe Stock © petunyia
