COUNTERBALANCE
Warning Signs That Your Application May Require a Custom Solution
Every operation is different, but several conditions can indicate that standard equipment may not be the best long-term solution:
- The load is unusually heavy, long, wide or unbalanced.
Standard capacity alone does not tell the whole story. The load’s center of gravity, dimensions and stability must also be considered.
- Operators are modifying the process to accommodate the truck.
If employees must reposition a load several times, use additional equipment or rely on manual intervention, the truck may not be designed for the actual task.
- The operating space is extremely limited.
Narrow aisles, low overhead clearances, elevators, mezzanines and congested production areas may require a different wheelbase, steering configuration or overall truck footprint.
- The truck must move in more than two directions.
Four-directional travel can provide better control when transporting long loads or operating in spaces where turning is difficult.
- The application involves a hazardous location.
Facilities with flammable vapors, combustible dust or other hazardous materials require properly classified and approved equipment. A standard electric lift truck should never be assumed suitable for an explosion-hazard environment.
- The load requires a specialized handling method.
Dies, molds, coils, rolls, vehicles, glass, aerospace components and other specialized materials may require pushing, pulling, rotating, clamping, lifting or transferring functions that conventional forks cannot provide efficiently.
- Damage, downtime or near misses are becoming routine.
Repeated operational issues are often signs that the equipment and application are not properly aligned.
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