Should I buy or hire a forklift truck?

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Forklifts are one of the most commonly used types of equipment for handling materials. They are robust and efficient machines that can adapt to various business needs and are used in warehouses, shipyards, loading docks and department stores. The choice to hire or buy a forklift is a significant step for any business. For you to make the right decision, we’ll take you through some common reasons why companies purchase or hire a forklift.

Hire a forklift

Hiring a forklift can be very appealing to businesses, whether short-term or long-term. It may be difficult to rent one for prolonged or intermittent periods, but you can still crunch up the numbers to ensure that you are making the best financial decision. Some of the most sought-after forklifts are:

Warehouse forklift

This type of forklift is the most common and the most recognized. Warehouses with extensive inventories use them most frequently. These lifts are perfect for packing and unpacking items as well as offloading and trucking items from vehicles.

Counterbalance forklift

The counterbalance forklift is commonly used in indoor establishments. They have forks fixed at the front and weights at the back to counter the load. These lifts don’t have outrigger arms, making it easier for the forklift to move to the exact intended location.

Rough terrain forklift

Rough terrain forklifts are ideal for outdoor work on rough, challenging terrain. They have engines far more powerful than indoor forklifts, which help them gain high speeds and have better manoeuvrability for transporting heavy loads over uneven grounds. Forklifts have many moving parts, requiring professional maintenance if something goes wrong. By hiring a forklift, you avoid all-year servicing and maintenance costs as these will be included in the hiring agreement. Moreover, if a truck doesn’t fit your purpose, you can easily swap with a different forklift model without incurring significant charges. You can also get newer models which have economical fuel costs and meet the latest standards for safety and emissions. Hiring is particularly advantageous for businesses with peak periods that may only need a forklift for certain periods of the year.

Buy a forklift

You may wonder why some businesses buy their trucks. Buying a forklift means it will always be there when you need it, and it’s rightfully yours. You can do a rush job on time compared to renting, where you may have to wait for a few hours for it to get to you. You can also customize and make modifications on your forklift depending on your business operation needs. Over a lifetime, buying the machine outright is less costly as it provides a better return on investment (ROI) than weekly or monthly rentals. If your business involves a lot of heavy lifting, it may be better to buy a forklift because you’ll be using it regularly. Although hiring is simple, it may get tiresome, especially when using identical forklifts. Many businesses would choose to buy their own and save time in this case. If you buy your forklift, you can spend time training your staff to become experts, hence helping them complete jobs safely and run their tasks efficiently. Whilst forklift hire is sometimes accompanied by training, it will involve learning how to operate a new model each time you take out a rental. This is time-consuming compared to the one-off training required when you purchase a forklift. Since 2020, businesses have been forced to adapt to keep up with the high demand for online shopping and other logistical changes due to COVID-19. As a result, there has been a sharp increase in demand for used forklifts. Businesses are choosing to look for reliable dealerships to benefit from faster turnarounds since they need to provide units with minimal downtime. Electric forklifts are becoming the most sought-after units, with Caterpillar, Hyster and Still forklifts providing the agility and the required lift capacity.

Contact Radnes Services today

Need help with hiring a forklift, or do you want to purchase one? We offer services and advice that will steer you in the right direction. Get in touch with our expert and friendly team for all your forklift needs.

What is a counterbalance forklift truck?

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With so many types of forklift trucks on the market, designed to carry out a specific need, it’s important that you understand the type of forklift you need, its suitability for the job you need it for, and its capabilities. As counterbalance forklift trucks are among the most commonly used type of trucks across a wide range of industries, we’ve put together a guide explaining what a counterbalance forklift truck is, what it does and the ways in which it will benefit your business.

What is a counterbalance forklift truck?

A counterbalance forklift has two forks placed at the front of the truck, which give it the ability to go up close to a load in order to lift it and move it to the required destination. The name of the truck comes from the counterweight at the back of the vehicle. This helps balance out the heavy load that’s being lifted at the front of the forklift, as the counterbalance definition would suggest.

You can find a counterbalance forklift in both three and four wheel options and you can choose from electric, gas or diesel engines. They’re extremely powerful and ideal for lifting heavy loads in numerous different environments.

What does a counterbalance forklift truck do?

Counterbalance forklift trucks are often used to transport heavy objects and materials to another location. Unlike other forklift trucks, counterbalance trucks have a counterweight at the rear end to make them safer. Not only are counterbalance forklift trucks versatile – meaning they can be used both inside a warehouse or outside on a construction site – but they also drive perfectly on smooth, flat surfaces due to their big turning circle.

How can a counterbalance forklift truck help your business?

Save money

Electric counterbalance forklift trucks only need water to top them up and electricity to recharge the battery, so you’ll be saving on fuel costs.

Health and safety

Counterbalance trucks are a great way to improve health and safety in the workplace. With electric trucks, you don’t need to store fuel and you can replace the battery easily.

Maintenance

While your counterbalance forklift will need regular maintenance to ensure it remains in good and safe working condition, it’s not something you have to worry about. The reason? High-quality counterbalance forklift trucks have a good life span, so you’ll simply be replacing and repairing small parts like engine oil, coolants and filters.

Increased versatility

Counterbalance forklift trucks are great if you’re looking for extra versatility. This is because they can be fitted with a wide selection of attachments. This includes the following:

• Clamps like paper rolls or bale allow counterbalance forklift trucks to efficiently pick and lift irregular shaped loads.

• Rotators allow counterbalance forklift trucks to tip and rotate industrial bins securely and safely.

• Carpet poles allow textiles and materials like carpet to be wrapped around the main pole for quick and easy transport.

Carry a wide selection of weights

Counterbalance forklift trucks are designed to safely carry weights from as little as 1.8 tonnes all the way up to 48 tonnes. The bigger the lift capacity of the counterbalance forklift, the bigger the size of the unit. This is to ensure that the counterbalance can sufficiently balance the weight of the heavy loads being picked up.

A range of fuel types

There is a range of counterbalance forklift fuel types available for you to power your trucks. These include:

• Petrol

• Diesel

• LPG

• Battery electric

Due to the different fuel types, you can customise your unit to carry out a specific application. For example, the diesel-powered counterbalance forklift truck will ensure that you have enough power to manoeuvre large loads like containers and the electric counterbalance forklift truck will help reduce toxic emissions – which is particularly helpful if you’re working indoors.

Contact Radnes today

Did you know that counterbalance forklift trucks are among the best type of forklifts? Whether you’re looking for a three-wheel or four-wheel truck, here at Radnes, we’re confident that we’ll have the right one for you. We also have a wide selection of makes and models on offer to suit your needs, including counterbalance floor crane hire.

As a counterbalance forklift dealer in London, Radnes Services is more than happy to help you. We have all the counterbalance forklift trucks you need for any situation or project. We’re also proud to offer training for your employees on the safe use of counterbalance forklift trucks. If you’re not sure what type of counterbalance forklift truck to buy or hire, or you need help with anything related to counterbalance forklift trucks, our team of experts can offer you the advice and services that will help get your business moving in the right direction. So, get in touch with our professional team today for all your counterbalance forklift truck needs.

What is the best forklift brand?

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A forklift truck is an essential piece of equipment in warehouses, shipping yards, retail distribution centres, construction sites, loading docks and more, so choosing the right one for your business is essential. When it comes to selecting the best brand for your next forklift purchase, there are many options available on the market today – be it a Toyota, Kion, Clark, Yale, or Mitsui.

However, we’re here to tell you that they do not compare to a CAT Lift Trucks forklift. CAT Lift Trucks has been manufacturing quality products since 1916 with over 60 years of experience building heavy-duty equipment. Read on to find out the benefits of CAT forklifts and why they should become your go-to forklift going forward.

History of CAT Lift Trucks

With more than 80 years of working in the handling industry, CAT has a range of efficient and robust equipment to improve the performance of any job. However, CAT comes from humble beginnings when an individual named Lester M. Sears decided it would be a good idea to convert a farm tractor for industrial purposes. While his Model L might look strange to some today, it has transformed the way we handle materials forever.

Advantages of a CAT forklift

The manufacturers have lots of experience

As mentioned above, CAT forklift manufacturers have more than 80 years of experience under their belts. So, the company knows how to design, manufacture and operate warehouse equipment that is worth investing in, with the added promise of maximum safety and productivity.

The service programmes are high-quality

While CAT forklifts are known for being robust and reliable, it’s still important to carry out a service to ensure that everything is operating as it should be and that your workforce remains safe while dealing with their equipment. The 12-month warranties on CAT forklifts offer peace of mind to anyone hiring or buying a forklift. With a CAT forklift, you get product support from professionals as well as excellent customer service.

In addition to the service programmes offered by CAT, here at Radnes Services, we offer warehouse power equipment training and maintenance services to your workers whenever you hire or purchase a forklift from us. We’ll ensure that all the 3-monthly, 6-monthly and annual maintenance checks are carried out. It’s an easy procedure that takes very little time but ensures the maximum safety for you and your workforce.

Parts are available

Should an issue arise with your forklift, you can rest assured that it won’t take long to get in a replacement part. There’s nothing more inconvenient than when your forklift gets damaged and it takes a lot of time for your part to come into stock. Not only is this time-wasting, but it also means that you won’t meet your deadlines. One of the main benefits of a CAT forklift is that it’s easy to secure all the replacement parts you need. Here at Radnes Services, we stock all the necessary storage equipment and extra parts ready and waiting for when you need them.

Global dealers

CAT supplies material handling equipment to countries all over the world. Therefore, they have the knowledge and expertise to create a custom product that meets your purpose and demand. In doing so, they bring together global resources with international contacts to offer you high-quality equipment all the time.

CAT equipment is award-winning

Did you know that CAT forklifts have been recognised by several industry awards over the years? This includes most recently the Red Dot Design Award for their small electric forklift models. Put simply, there is one thing that we can take away very confidently from CAT forklift trucks – that the quality of their design, manufacturing, and operation will always be excellent and incomparable. Their products will also last a long time, making them a wise investment for your business or company.

Contact us today

Did you know that Cat Lift Trucks are the best in their class? Whether you’re looking for an industrial truck or something more specialised, like a walkie-talkie lift truck, this is the one for you. We offer loads of different models to suit your needs – from straight trucks to articulated ones and everything in between. The CAT Truck Company’s motto has always been “We Deliver,” and that’s what they aim to do with their heavy-duty construction equipment – deliver quality at affordable prices every time.

As a CAT Lift Trucks dealer in London, Radnes Services is here to help you. We have all the forklifts you need for any project or situation and can provide training for your employees on the safe use of forklifts.

If you’re not sure what type of forklift or pallet truck to buy or need help with anything related to forklifts, we can offer you the services and advice that will get your business moving in the right direction. So, get in touch with our expert and friendly team today for all your forklift needs.

What is the lifting capacity of the most powerful forklift?

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Forklift trucks are probably one of the most useful vehicles that you can find on a building site. Designed to effortlessly lift and reposition cumbersome and heavy loads, forklifts are indispensable when it comes to material handling for all kinds of industries.

There are many different types of forklifts that are available for various purposes, all of which do a similar job – shifting heavy loads. This article is going to look at the upper end of lifting capacities for forklifts and learn about how lifting capacities are measured in forklifts. We will also find out what is the lifting capacity of the most powerful forklift. Read on to find out more…

How do you measure the most powerful forklift?

There are a number of measurements that need to be considered when trying to find the most powerful forklift truck. We will go over each of these measurements below before discussing the different types of forklift trucks available.

Forklift capacity in tons

The capacity of a forklift in tons is the maximum weight that a forklift will be able to safely carry. You can find forklift-specific information about maximum capacity on the load capacity data plate, which we will discuss later. It is strongly advised to never go beyond this limit as it is likely to cause machine failure.

The load centre of the forklift

The load centre details the maximum size of your cargo’s centre of gravity. Again, this should never go over the maximum limit for the forklift as it increases the chances of the forklift tipping over. There are ways around this if you need to carry a load that is greater than your load centre, but it requires a new load capacity calculation.

Additional equipment and attachments

Many forklifts can be fitted with attachments to offer improved functionality. These attachments can change the figures of load capacities and load centres, though, so you will need to consider this. It is a good idea to double-check any documentation from the attachment in question, as this should tell you about any changes to the maximum load capacity or load centre.

Lifting height

There should be two figures to look at when working on a forklift with a high mast – low height and maximum height capacities. These two lift heights will tell a forklift operator the best way to operate a forklift at low-level heavy loads as well as higher-level light loads.

The load capacity data plate

A load capacity data plate is a crucial component that contains all of the important carrying information about a forklift truck. The data plate should help operators use the forklift safely by instructing them about different mast positions, load capacities, load centre points, maximum lift weights and other details about the type of forklift.

Sometimes, the load capacity data plate might contain additional information about capacity down ratings and limits for specific attachments. To give you a good idea, we have outlined different forklift trucks and their load capacities below.

Reach forklift trucks

A reach truck can safely lift loads up to 2,500 kg. If the reach truck is a three-wheeler, then it might only be able to safely carry around 2,000 kg.

Four-wheel forklifts

For four-wheel reach trucks, you will be able to lift a greater load due to more power. Unlike three-wheel forklift trucks, which are normally powered by electricity, four-wheel forklifts can run on petrol, diesel or propane. This allows for a bigger load capacity of up to 3,600 kg.

Turret trucks

Turret trucks are powered by an electric motor, but they can carry a heavy load of up to 3,600 kg.

Rough terrain forklifts

Rough terrain forklifts are designed for harsh environments and can run on diesel, petrol or compressed gas. With a high capacity load of up to 16,000 kg, this is an incredibly powerful machine.

What is the lifting capacity of the most powerful forklift?

Now that we understand how lifting capacity is measured, we can attempt to answer the question about the highest capacity forklift.

In 1991, Swedish forklift manufacturer Kalmar LMV unveiled three new counterbalanced forklift trucks with astounding lifting loads. These hulking machines could lift up to 72,000 kg at a dizzyingly high load centre of 2.4 metres.

These true titans of forklifts were designed to help complete a man-made river that required multiple pipelines that ran over 620 miles in length. The Kalmar DCG720-10LB is the most powerful forklift truck in the world, with a lifting capacity of up to 72 tonnes.

Find a forklift for your needs

If you would like to know more about our range of forklift trucks at Radnes, speak with us today. Our team of specialists can help find the perfect forklift truck for your needs from top names such as Hyster-Yale, Caterpillar and Hangcha. Our services extend throughout the South East of England including London, Surrey and Kent.

Contact us at Radnes today for more information.

What effect will robotics developments have on warehouse workers?

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For decades there has been talk of autonomous robotics taking over elements of our lives. As technology develops the capacity for machines to take over what were previously considered difficult manual labour jobs is increasing. Is that such a good thing, however? Are there any benefits of warehouse workers that could make them even more valuable than machines?

Increasing technology developments

Technology systems are developing all the time. Everything from overarching warehouse management systems to machines that can sort, pick, and pack orders are seeing increasing use. On the face of it you may think that they offer the perfect solution. Computers don’t make mistakes after all. They don’t object to working exceptionally long hours, they don’t require pay, they don’t need breaks of any kind, and they offer a consistent level of efficiency even during periods of intense consumer demand. These are all very true, and for certain business owners these benefits are enough to make them seriously consider phasing out human workers wherever possible.

The downsides of robot infrastructure

Machinery doesn’t have all the answers, however. While the aforementioned benefits are definitely compelling, there are some potential drawbacks to be mindful of too. The first is that systems are under a constant state of development, and even the most sophisticated and heavily-trialled software can still experience crashes and malfunctions. Something else that prevents many business owners adapting more is sheer cost. The technology is still relatively new, and as such it carries a heavy capital investment requirement over and above what many businesses can afford. You not only have the purchase price to factor in remember, but you will also have ongoing maintenance and repair costs too.

The benefits of keeping human workers

Warehouse operators require some level of critical thinking, and while artificial intelligence and learning computers are getting better than ever the truth is that they’re still nowhere near humans. Your skilled workers can process developing situations and determine a suitable response in mere moments, where a machine could be completely stuck when presented with the same set of circumstances. Remember that machines can only respond in line with the way they are programmed, and if they’re presented with circumstances they are not expecting it can lead to problems. As humans we have thousands of years of situational awareness and development in our favour when it comes to thinking on our feet.

Something else to think about is that humans can be easier to train in certain respects. Granted a machine can process calculations we could never dream of doing in our heads. But by the same token it would take a fraction of the time to teach a person to use and operate a forklift as it would to establish an autonomous system that was reliable. This means that for many business owners humans are still the foundation of their logistical force because we’re much better suited to adapting to our environment and our circumstances.

Which is the right approach for you?

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to this sort of question, there’s only what’s best for your business. For most business owners they will find that the best solution lies in a happy medium. Where possible it’s a great idea to implement technology for labour-saving and efficiency reasons. Where slightly more complex skills such as forklift driving are required however, it’s difficult to improve on what a human workforce offers.

There is also a wider economic question that still remains unanswered. There’s a large pool of workers potential facing upheaval from their jobs as they are replaced by machines – where do they go, and what do they do? If automation becomes the default choice for business owners, that’s going to mean an ever-swelling group of unemployed people who no longer have viable employment opportunities. This is another reason why a pragmatic approach is required that instead seeks to benefit from both human and machine workplace contributions wherever possible.

Working with quality equipment and expertise

As mentioned, humans still have the edge when it comes to operating certain warehousing equipment such as forklifts and load trucks. At Radnes Services Ltd we’re specialists in the provision of all manner of essential logistics equipment to industry professionals. Everything from forklifts to pallet trucks and all points in between can be procured from our friendly, helpful, and experienced staff.

Whether you’re looking to invest in a forklift for your business, you want to hire a forklift to temporarily meet an ongoing need, or you want to ensure that your operatives benefit from industry-leading training Radnes Services Ltd can help. We’re specialists in everything relating to manual handling equipment hire, sales, and training, with a dedicated team of professionals always available to assist you.

We offer a range of services designed to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking to begin your career as a forklift operator and you want to make sure you invest in quality training, or you’re a business owner looking for a flexible forklift hire contract, we can help.

For more information on our services, don’t hesitate to contact Radnes Services Ltd today.

CAT electric forklifts - Radnes Services Ltd

What are the many uses of forklifts?

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Forklifts can be some of the most vital parts of any warehouse business or even any business that needs to move goods around at all. Useful for a huge variety of tasks, a forklift can be the most versatile part of any modern workplace. Read on to find out more about what you can use a forklift for in your workplace, and even find out more information about forklifts and what makes them such a versatile part of your workplace.

Warehouses

The most standard use for a forklift is in a warehouse. In these cases, a forklift can stack goods from as small as packs of sweets in their stocking boxes to massive items that people simply wouldn’t be able to lift up to get to the right place. This versatility in item size means that a forklift has to be at the heart of any warehouse, or you would lose the ability to store stock that is over a certain size.

A forklift is also incredibly useful when trying to make the most of the amount of space you have in your warehouse. People simply can’t reach the top shelves in the vast majority of warehouses, and if you want people to reach those shelves, they wouldn’t be safe carrying large weights all the way up the ladders to the top of the shelving units. In these cases, using a forklift becomes a necessity. From large and heavy equipment to simple products that need to go to a high storage shelf, a forklift can keep your business running just as you need it.

Construction

Construction is another key industry in which you can see forklifts doing vital jobs that regular people wouldn’t be able to. The vast majority of building sites are based on making sure that heavy materials including concrete, bricks, and lumber are in the right place at the right time, so a highly qualified builder can get everything put together in the best way possible. This job can’t be done without everything a builder needs being in the right place at the right time.

This applies to much more than making sure that it’s in the right place on one floor, but can often be incredibly helpful in the construction of balconies and railings. By lifting up heavy building materials such as bricks and concrete slabs, a forklift truck can make the construction of high levels a lot simpler. With builders needing to take materials upstairs, you’d end up with a very quickly demoralised and exhausted workforce. By getting a forklift to do the heavy lifting, your skilled labourers can focus on what they’re good at, and you can get the job done to the highest of standards in a good amount of time.

Transport

If you’re struggling to get your employees where they need to be, whether because of a lack of ladders or you’ve not been able to get the stairs put together on a construction site yet, a forklift has an ability that not many people consider, which is helping your employees get to where they need to be.

You can often use a forklift truck as an aerial lift, replacing a crane or other lifting device in making sure that people can get where they need to be. Of course, there is a selection of safety regulations that you need to stay in alignment with as you’re transporting people using an atypical method. However, if you are able to get your forklift working in an effective way, you can get your stock counters, maintenance team, and cleaners where they need to be to get their jobs done.

Transporting goods

In a dock or port, forklifts play a significant role. When goods come off ships you need to make sure they get to the right place as soon as possible. After all, some of it may be time-sensitive, such as refrigerated or frozen goods that need to reach their destination as soon as possible. A forklift can move goods to the right trucks and lorries much faster than people moving a ship worth of products by hand would.

You can also combine the use of a forklift to move goods with a forklift moving people. It can be difficult to reach stacked up containers, so if you need to move an inspector or other port worker easily, you can forklift them up into place and then use the very same forklift to start moving goods. This versatility makes forklifts a must-have, whether you’re material handling or using your forklift operations to get people moved to the best place possible.

Contact Radnes today

If you’re interested in getting top quality machinery for your company, check out Radnes today. We offer forklifts from the best forklift manufacturers around, providing lifting machinery that you can trust to make your site as effective as can be. Take a look at our wide range of forklifts today, and see what we can do to help you to get the lifting solutions that you need in the workplace.

How and why should you prepare your forklift for scheduled maintenance?

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Forklift maintenance is an essential consideration for every business owner that uses forklifts. At Radnes Services Ltd, we offer a range of forklift maintenance services designed to fit in with the schedule of busy warehouses, factories, and fulfilment centres. There’s more to looking after a forktruck than just sending it off for maintenance, however. What do you need to know?

Your pre-maintenance checks

As a part of your fork lift maintenance routine, you should be in the habit of doing daily checks. These checks are done to ensure the vehicle is in proper working condition and can be invaluable for helping identify and isolate potential problems before they arise.

These checks aren’t just useful for daily forktruck maintenance, however, they’re also useful when you have your forklift booked in with us for repairs or servicing. When you contact us, we’ll arrange a time to suit you as best as possible. Before your forklift is sent off to us, however, you should invest a few minutes in having an experienced operator give it a thorough checking over before it’s loaded for transportation.

This is useful because it can give you an indication of the vehicle’s condition before it arrives. If you spot any problems with it, you can let us know, and we’ll be able to make sure those problems are addressed. We pride ourselves on turning around forklifts very quickly, as we know businesses depend on them, but that time can be reduced even further when we know in advance what issues a forklift has before arriving.

Another consideration is that knowing issues in advance can allow us to make sure we have a necessary part in stock before your forklift arrives. This means we’re able to know the problem area ahead of time and prepare the necessary parts, again reducing downtime.

Be sure to have a replacement lined up

When it comes to forklift maintenance, the important thing is planning for every eventuality. You may want to make sure, then, that you have a replacement forklift available to use while one is in for repairs or servicing. This can help keep your fleet mobile and ensure you’re able to still operate to capacity, even while taking ongoing forklift maintenance requirements into consideration.

This is where renting a forklift can come in useful, and as it happens, Radnes Services Ltd can also help you with that. We can provide you with a forklift that matches the spec of the one you’re having us collect as best as possible. Then you’ll be able to keep working to capacity. We can drop off the rented forklift, pick up your forklift, then when the forklift is repaired, bring it back and collect the hired forklift.

This takes the stress, the hassle, and the risk of downtime out of the equation. The last thing you want to do in a consistently busy period is have an operator without a forklift to use. This is going to mean a reduction in efficiency and deliveries not being processed in good time. You can avoid that risk entirely by arranging to hire a forklift and have the convenience of it being delivered for you.

One more consideration you should make is that you may have to have the forklift hired for longer than you first anticipated, so ensure both you and the hire contract are flexible to allow for this. The reason is that there may be issues with your forklift that are only discovered while it’s in for repair, which can cause an extension to the amount of time it’s in for. You, and the people hiring to you, should be prepared for this.

The good thing is that most hire contracts are flexible and can be extended sometimes on a daily basis.

Preparation is always key

For everything in life, it’s important to prepare, and sending your forklift off for maintenance is no different. You should always have a good idea of your forklift’s general condition before you send it off for maintenance, especially if you’re sending it for routine servicing.

Invest just a few minutes ensuring the forklift is thoroughly checked ahead of time, and you could be saving yourself a lot of stress in the long-run. You and the maintenance team will know what to expect when the forklift is further examined, and you’ll be able to have a much better idea of how long you’ll need to arrange a suitable replacement. You don’t want to think your forklift will be gone for two days, only for it to actually take five.

Looking after a forklift truck is easy when you invest in the services of a team of dedicated and professional experts. That’s why you should always contact the team at Radnes Services Ltd when it comes to keeping your forklift working reliably. Whether you just have one trusty workhorse or a whole fleet spread across several different sites, you can trust Radnes Services Ltd to keep it working as dependably as possible.

For hiring, buying, or maintaining a fork lift, Croyden Surrey businesses choose Radnes Services Ltd – and you should too.

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Material handling and the Covid-19 pandemic

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It is no surprise that the global pandemic has changed a lot of things across the world, in both our personal and professional lives. We have all been spending more time indoors, and those of us who go out to work have found new pressures and demands.

The impact has been felt especially strongly in certain sectors of the business world, with one of these being the material handling industry.

One may wonder why exactly the pandemic has caused such a sea change in the material handling industry. With skyrocketing needs that must be met, the sudden pressure has seen the industry struggling to meet demand.

Pandemic shopping habits

A leading reason for this spike in pressure is the increased demand for online shopping. Online shopping has been growing increasingly over the past twenty years, but this is the first time it has been widely essential for the general public.

Usually, most people will have split their shopping between the high street and buying online. However, since March 2020, this has become, at times, impossible. With the high street closing up during lockdowns and many unable to leave their houses due to shielding, pandemic online shopping has peaked, especially with sites like Amazon.

Increased online presence

As well as people ordering from established giants such as Amazon, many other shops that were perhaps not as prevalent in the online sphere have had to make the leap. This means hiring and training new workers in material handling so that demand can be met and smaller businesses can keep their doors open – if only virtually for the time being.

Shops that perhaps did not require warehouses before are now branching out and increasing the need for material handling. This industry has become a vital component of the “new normal” as we turn more and more to online solutions.

Warehousing requirements

People have been spending a lot more time ordering online, with Amazon warehouses busier than ever before. Warehousing demand has grown and grown over the past 12 months – which means more workers are needed in order to meet the needs placed on the eCommerce sector.

The material handling industry ensures that warehouses can get stock moved safely and keep the areas orderly for a quicker, cleaner turnaround. Ensuring that warehouses can meet the demands placed on them, fully trained and experienced material handling professionals are essential workers as they help warehouses to meet the demands which seem to only be growing as time goes by.

Hygiene and compliance

Covid-19 has not only caused a spike in online shopping trends, it has also led to the need for a larger focus on hygiene and a reduction of staff in certain areas. This has also impacted the staff in warehouses and those in the material handling industry.

Because of social distancing regulations, there is often a need for fewer staff to be working at any time, so those who are working are required to be fully trained and able to put in as much work as possible.

Having the correct equipment is also of vital importance – if a warehouse does not have enough heavy lifting equipment, this makes it harder to reach the higher targets set by changing consumer trends. For example, warehouses may need to increase the amount of forklift trucks that they have onsite, either temporarily as the pandemic goes on, or permanently if these customer trends continue in the future.

Meeting rising demand

As demand continues to rise, the material handling industry is integral to warehouses in a plethora of ways. With the eCommerce industry seeking more flexibility in supply chains and requiring more highly customised (and customisable) equipment and services.

Material handling offers essential support when it comes to the transportation of supplies and finished goods, the storage of stock, and even the distribution of both materials and goods across the country and beyond. With online shopping looking set to grow, material handling is becoming more and more innovative in order to meet the unique needs of each company.

How Radnes can help

With over forty years of experience, Radnes is a family run business which offers innovative and reliable solutions for those who need to hire, buy or repair forklift trucks.

With the increased usage of forklifting equipment, you may find that your trucks require more maintenance than usual, or that you simply need to hire more for busy periods. We will even advise you on the best forklift trucks to buy so that your purchase suits your business needs. If you are hiring new staff, we can supply you with training for the forklift trucks, and carry out safety inspections for your peace of mind.

Based near Croydon, Radnes is ready to meet the forklifting needs in the South East of England, all at a very competitive price for our reliable, friendly services.

If you have found your business struggling with Covid and handling, get in touch with Radnes to find out how we can help you to rise up and meet the new pressures that have come along with this far from average year.

RTITB Releases New Free eLearning Course in the Combat of COVID

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Health and safety is a crucial part of our industry, particularly when it comes to forklift safety, as heavy machinery is not something to be taken lightly. And so, needless to say, when the COVID pandemic came around, it brought with it many challenges. Forklift truck training has always required a large element of personal interaction, with a proportion of training courses occurring inside a classroom so an RTITB certified instructor could teach the essentials.

With the classroom environment deemed too risky by the government, and with the model of external instructors travelling to provide the training presenting its own risks, it looked as though either a potential halt in training and therefore work or a further spread of the virus were inevitable. However, in a positive turn of events, the RTITB has released a brand new and free eLearning course to help reduce the risk during lift truck training. Though, in such uncertain times as these, this may leave you with some questions. Let’s take a closer look at these below.

Who are the RTITB?

The Road Industry Transport Board (RTITB) are the leading standards-setting body in workplace transport training, having provided training to well over one million people in the country, while over 100,000 delegates are trained to their standards every year. The  RTITB provides a plethora of instructor training courses in addition to its health-checking services, and the board’s rigorous standards ensure that all training provided by themselves and those they have accredited is the safest and most effective training possible. More information can be found on their website at https://www.rtitb.com/.

What is the new eLearning course?

The new eLearning course is designed for use by those who will be providing forklift truck training and covers all of the necessary bases that training providers will need to keep in mind, such as how to effectively communicate safety to their trainees and how best to deliver the theoretical and practical training. Most importantly, it looks at how to establish whether training is essential, and takes a look at the HSE hierarchy of controls. These are a set of measures which organisations should apply to promote the highest level of safety, meaning that, in the current climate, face to face contact should be limited.

What does this mean for us?

Thanks to this eLearning course, forklift truck training can still go ahead in warehouses across the country, without the need for incurring an unnecessary risk of infection by having external instructors travel to different worksites. Furthermore, it provides free, relevant and faceless training that will allow trainers to provide updated and effective instruction that is relevant to the times. It will also decentralise the training by allowing independent instructors to provide support without compromising the quality of the course, and by being only 30-minutes long, it will ensure training can be provided quickly as well as safely.

Why was this needed?

Forklift truck driving provides an essential service to warehouse operations, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently, which in the current climate is absolutely vital. Due to the pandemic, work has been at times completely delayed, and at others, it has been made more difficult by thinned workforces due to self-isolation. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we ensure rigorous safety standards are upheld, not only to prevent any risks of infection but also to prevent any hazards or workplace accidents that may put further strain on our workforces. Thanks to this course’s impact on forklift truck training, this essential part of warehouse operations can continue without posing an unnecessary risk to any workers involved in the process.

What does this mean for Radnes?

This course will prove useful not only for in-house training but also for training providers. Through employing the use of the RTITB’s new eLearning course, our certified staff can continue to provide the highest quality of training during novice, instructor, and refresher courses, ensuring that all training falls within these rigorous guidelines while also remaining safe during the pandemic period. Thanks to the digitisation of training outlines, we are able to provide high-quality training that is strictly in keeping with the latest in forklift safety policies.

So if your business requires forklift truck training in line with the RTITIB’s strict standards, while also adhering to strict COVID safety guidelines, get in touch with Radnes to find out more about our services.