Introduction
When an industrial manufacturer or warehouse operation needs to move large and heavy items, they typically rely on the traditional forklift. For smaller, lighter loads, a pallet jack or even a pushcart might be just the perfect solution.
But somewhere in between lurks an often ignored middle-of-the-road gap that neither forklifts, pushcarts — and dare we say electric golf carts — are the best approach.
One proven answer that’s quickly gaining traction in a variety of industrial environments — filling the void between forklifts and manual pushcarts — is mid-size motorized material handling vehicles.
Many manufacturing operations, warehouses, and distribution centers are finding themselves in the market for such a beneficial solution to their material handling needs.
This white paper covers five “must-haves” to carefully consider when evaluating investing in mid-size motorized material handling vehicles.
Something always needs to be moved
One of the major drawbacks of traditional forklifts is that they’re not always able to maneuver in tight spaces or down extremely narrow aisles. And for expansive operations — involving long distances due to their huge footprints — relying on manual pallet jacks or pushcarts for an entire eight-hour shift will gradually fatigue the fittest of employees over time.
Such drawbacks in the workplace only help to undermine efforts at employee retention and keeping employees satisfied with their jobs over the long term. These types of challenges call for unique solutions that will not only help you move people and loads differently but also ensure that your employees look forward to coming to work day after day.
And as with any industrial manufacturer or warehouse operation, there’s always something that needs to be moved. From scrap cardboard in shipping and receiving, spare parts to fix a broken piece of machinery, to transporting janitorial supplies that help keep work stations as well as lavatories clean and sanitary, the need to keep things moving is seemingly endless.
What exactly is a mid-size motorized material handling vehicle?
The concept behind today’s industrial mid-size motorized material handling vehicles can be traced to similar vehicles originally designed to provide a dependable mobility solution for disabled individuals. For example, motorized shopping carts are commonly seen every day across the U.S. providing ease of mobility for the disabled in grocery stores, department stores, and a variety of other retail environments.
Also, not to be confused with the rising trend in automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), motorized material handling vehicles are still very much human-operated. However, due to their extremely simple design, relatively low-tech operation, durability, and reliability, they’re much less costly and easier to service than their high-tech counterparts.
Mid-size motorized material handling vehicles also utilize a variety of detachable cart and/or trailer designs to accommodate loads of different weight capacities. Typical loads range from parcels delivered for distribution throughout a manufacturing floor to tools and heavy spare parts for machinery repairs.
If you’re currently considering investing in one or even several mid-size motorized material handling vehicles, or just curious about what to look for when the timing’s right to make a purchase, following is a list of five “must-haves” you can refer to during the evaluation process:
Must-Have #1: High Durability
As with any material handling equipment investment, the capability to withstand a high level of wear and tear is very important. Mid-size motorized material handling vehicles that have evolved directly from personal mobility cart design — which has stood the test of time for decades in a variety of heavy-use environments like supermarkets and grocery stores — is a major plus.
And just because mid-size motorized material handling vehicles are relatively compact in size, simple in design, and have a limited number of operating parts compared to other types of material handling equipment, don’t let their appearance fool you.
Compared to more cheaply designed products on the market that are considered “throw-away” equipment, well-built mid-size motorized material handling vehicles are much more durable and powerful than they might appear on the surface. Robust tubular steel frames and specially-designed tires that can withstand the sharpest of metal shards are just two features to look for in a high-quality product.
Must-Have #2: Engineered for Simplicity & Ease of Use
In contrast with traditional forklifts, mid-size motorized material handling vehicles require virtually no user training for safe operation. And unlike forklifts or other battery-powered material handling vehicles that require dedicated charging stations, being able to plug a vehicle into any convenient 110V outlet for overnight charging is a significant convenience.
In addition, an ergonomically-designed low-deck standing platform that’s three inches off the floor dramatically reduces the amount of energy required for operators who need to repeatedly step on/step off their material handling vehicle (such as for parcel deliveries) during their shift.
Consider too an employee who’s responsible for preventive maintenance, such as for a company’s numerous fire extinguishers in a large facility. The employee could easily make their entire round of inspections without ever needing to step off of the material handling vehicle.
Must-Have #3: Ease of Service / Virtually Maintenance-Free
Virtually no maintenance requirements or no mandatory service plan will quickly translate to less total cost of ownership (TCO).
In addition, a mid-size motorized material handling vehicle that features a simple design with the fewest number of operating parts means a high degree of dependability and a product that’s easy to service if ever needed.
Must-Have #4: Proper Load Capacity
A mid-size motorized material handling vehicle is ideal for load capacities of anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 lbs. (including the operator), especially when you don’t need to handle significantly higher weight capacities of 5,000, 7,500, or even 10,000 lbs. Many companies just don’t have that kind of need.
For example, a 1,000 to 2,500 lbs. load capacity is perfect for a facility that needs to empty scrap cardboard from an exceptionally high number of 55-gallon garbage containers per day.
Keep in mind though that while grades of 4% to 6% still fall within the guidelines for safe operation, even a 1% grade will start to limit weight and towing capacity.
Must-Have #5: Maneuverability
Based on their size and design, a high degree of maneuverability is one of the stand-out strengths of mid-size motorized material handling vehicles. With a tight 52-inch turning radius (and even down to a zero turning radius on certain models), this type of optimal maneuverability is useful for a variety of applications where a limited amount of space is a factor.
The power of right-sizing your fleet
Today, “forklift-free” is a growing buzzword in manufacturing facilities and warehouses around the U.S. But implementing forklift-free plans can be extremely challenging. There aren’t many existing plants that can halt operations to design a completely new layout that eliminates the use of forklifts.
Instead of complicated logistics and a new layout, first, consider looking at gradually implementing small changes. Right-sizing material handling equipment based on the need of the job can be a more manageable plan than going completely forklift-free.
The result is using a smaller, more agile option, such as mid-size motorized material handling vehicles. They not only increase employee job satisfaction but help employees perform their jobs more efficiently while safely moving materials throughout their facilities.
By right-sizing your fleet of material handling equipment, you’ll further improve safety by containing forklifts where they’re most needed (and appropriate) while using mid-size motorized material handling vehicles for other dedicated purposes, such as for intra-facility transport.
Conclusion
When you need to fasten a screw to hold two pieces of material together, you certainly won’t reach for a hammer to get the job done. You’ll reach for the appropriate tool: a screwdriver, of course.
Likewise, if you’re finding that your employees are inappropriately using forklifts to move small items around, or they’re straining to move heavy and awkward loads using a manual pushcart, the in-between answer very well could be a mid-size motorized material handling vehicle.
When considering investing in such highly useful and versatile material handling equipment, here are a few closing thoughts and recommendations:
- Identify your most pressing material handling needs and applications.
- Ask your employees for feedback to gauge their interest level.
- Most importantly, once you decide to talk to a mid-sized motorized material handling vehicle vendor, ask for a demo of their various products. Due to their compact size, an entire product line-up will easily fit in a van for an on-site visit vs. a full-size semi-trailer full of large forklifts.
- Find out how the vendor’s customers are using their mid-size motorized material handling vehicles. This will provide you with vivid examples of what such equipment can do for your own company and your valued employees.
Learn more about the material handling lineup at https://www.myamigo.com/industrial/
