Most businesses today prefer the use of fuel or electricity-powered forklifts instead of the manual ones. Why? Because energy-powered forklifts tend to carry heavier loads and of course, with their use, items can be transported to further distances, when compared to a person using a manual stacker to move these products.
However, there are still several advantages of choosing to invest in and use manual forklifts. There are also disadvantages of having this manual type of equipment. The following are some of the noteworthy pros and cons of buying and using manual forklifts:
PROS:
??? A manual forklift is more affordable. Compared to the more complex fuel or electric-powered forklifts, the manual one is more affordable. It is also less expensive to have and maintain, especially in the long run, since you don’t have to worry about replacing or repairing some parts or features that tend to be easily damaged due to regular wear and tear of the equipment. You don’t have to worry about it being an energy-guzzler since you won’t need fuel or electricity to operate a manual forklift.
??? A manual forklift’s freedom from the use of power sources means that the only maintenance required is of the aesthetic type. This means simply protecting the equipment from corrosion and rust, and ensuring that all joints are smooth and well-oiled.
??? You don’t need a trained or licensed operator to handle this equipment. The use of this equipment does not require any license to be operated in the workplace. Although basic safety training courses may be needed, there are no specific qualifications or licenses needed for staff members. This allows you to save on training and it also means that anyone in the workplace can operate them, rather than a specified few who have undertaken training.
CONS:
??? A manual forklift places too much stress or pressure on the body of the carrier, and more so when products are added. When you have a power-driven forklift, running the “carrier” and bearing the weight and bulk of the products to be transported are all taken care of by the equipment.
??? It can be the cause of different types of injuries. The manual ones are heavy to operate; as such, the workers in charge of them need to make calculated movements at all times to effectively maneuver them around the warehouse or facility.
??? Related to the above, when the manual forklift becomes heavier because of the volume of items to be transported, the limit to the physical power of the people operating them can sometimes cause the items to fall off the carrier. And the things falling off from the equipment can injure people around and, of course, the items themselves get damaged, too. These types of injuries and damages to the products can lead to pointless expenses for any business.