Have you ever been driving your car on a hot summer day and the air conditioning stops working? It’s not the end of the world, but it is an annoyance. Your car is still drivable, but you are uncomfortable. The same can be said for a forklift that isn’t running properly.
Imagine you have a forklift that was purchased five years ago with a trade-in value of $10,000. It breaks down at the worst possible time and needs to be replaced immediately for $25,000. If you had planned ahead and spent $1,500 to service your forklift every year for the last 5 years, that would have been a much better deal than having to buy an entirely new forklift.
Forklifts are one of the most instrumental pieces of equipment for any warehouse. They’re crucial for efficiency and safety, but only when they’re in good working order.
Many forklift owners are aware of forklift sale in Australia and that their machines need regular maintenance, but not everyone understands the full benefits of a comprehensive maintenance plan.
Here are five reasons your forklift should have the best maintenance plan.
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Preventative Maintenance Saves Money
The total cost of ownership of your forklift is more than just the price you pay to buy it. Maintenance costs, repair costs, and even the cost of lost productivity all add up over time to equal a hefty sum.
The best way to save money is to prevent expensive problems before they start. That’s what preventative maintenance does – it keeps small problems from turning into big ones that cost you a lot more money in repairs and downtime later on.
Prevent accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that roughly 100 workers die in forklift accidents each year. While these fatalities are tragic, they can be prevented if proper maintenance is performed regularly. Forklifts that aren’t inspected regularly or repaired as needed can fail unexpectedly, causing injuries or even death. A well-maintained machine will not only operate safely but it will also help keep your employees safe.
Make Sure Your Forklift Runs Safely
Laws and regulations change every year, and it’s vital that your forklift meets or exceeds all current requirements related to safety and performance. A comprehensive maintenance plan will ensure that your machine complies with all relevant laws, rules, and regulations, keeping you out of trouble with OSHA or other regulatory agencies.
Minimize Downtime
The most common reason for forklift breakdowns is poor maintenance. If you’re looking for ways to minimize downtime, getting regular preventative maintenance on schedule is key. Batteries should be checked regularly and recharged as needed to keep them from failing when you need them most. Keep tires properly inflated at all times so they don’t wear out prematurely. And be sure that fluid levels are always full so they don’t cause damage to any of the internal parts of the machine.
Preventative Maintenance
The main reason to have a forklift service schedule in place is so that you can prevent any potential problems from occurring before they happen. This type of maintenance should be done periodically throughout the year, or whenever the machine has been used for a certain number of hours. Having this done regularly will help ensure that any worn or broken parts are replaced before they cause further damage to other components on the forklift.
