Which Forklift rentals are better for what job?

In Toronto Forklift rentals can offer huge advantages to smaller businesses that may not have the resources – or the need – to purchase a lift truck outright. But oftentimes, the owners of such businesses may not be certain of exactly want kind of vehicles they should be renting.

Should you have a fairly small warehouse or factory, a large forklift can often cause major problems, especially when it comes to maneuvering through narrow aisles or passageways. Not only that but when it is in operation, it can be a danger to staff due to the confined spaces it has to work in.

Operationally, a small warehouse often works very differently from a large one due to these space restrictions. When it comes to forklift rentals, having an idea of what you need can go a long way to ensuring you get the right machine the first time. Of course, if you are unsure, you can ask the advice of one of our forklift experts, although, in this article, we will show you a few options at your disposal including both narrow aisle and swivel reach varieties, the perfect solution in a confined space.

Narrow aisle forklifts

A small warehouse is usually filled to the rafters with inventory. This is often stacked in rows, and normally up towards the roof as well to maximize space. In fact, the amount packed into these warehouses is normally far more than the recommended holding capacity. No doubt, the aisles serving a warehouse of this nature are very narrow to maximize space. Luckily, special forklifts are available in these situations.

Narrow aisle forklifts have a number of advantages:

• They are easy to drive
• They are easy to maneuver
• They are designed and built to operate in limited spaces
• It is very easy to train someone to use one

Because of these advantages, a narrow aisle forklift can improve handling efficiency in a smaller environment but productivity as well. They simply are the best solution for a smaller warehouse/factory scenario.

Swivel reach forklifts

When storage space is at a premium, often it starts to go upwards. This means moving goods and packing them at a height. Without the right forklift, this can be very dangerous, not only to the operator but other staff in the warehouse as well.

Here the versatility of a swivel reach forklift comes to the fore. These machines are able to stack effectively at various heights while still remaining small enough to drive through the narrow aisles found in small warehouses or factories.  With forks able to turn through 180 degrees, swivel reach machines also offer an increase in productivity levels thanks to their ability to work on either side of an aisle at any time.

The great thing about both these types of forklifts is that they come in both diesel, gas and electric varieties. Should you still be unsure of which would work best in your smaller space, ask one of our staff for their expert advice.