Tools were created to make man’s life easier, and this is no exception. The following article will discuss the best tool for moving equipment and products in a warehouse, as well as its advantages.
What comes to mind when you think of a tool used for lifting and moving pallets? They operate similarly to forklifts, but with lighter loads. They are used to transport pallets within warehouses. Manual pallet trucks date back to 1918. The early ones used mechanical linkage to lift forks and loads, whereas the modern ones used a hand-pumped hydraulic jack.
Types and features
Before assessing the pallet truck price in Kenya, it is important to familiarize oneself with the various types of pallet truck available.
Single fork
These designs feature an unusually wide fork. They are recommended for moving oddly shaped objects such as safes and ATMs.
Angled forks
These are used to transport large rolls, and pipe sections. They can cradle round items to keep them from rolling around while being transported.
Four-way
This jack has very lengthy, low-profile forks. The tool can now pick up a four-way pallet from every direction.
Tilting forks
After picking up the load, this jack can rotate it up to 90 degrees. The pellet can be rotated either towards the operator or to the sides. This lowers the operator’s risk of injury.
Scissor- lift
This system is used to provide the tool with a longer stroke than the hydraulic piston. It is used to provide ergonomic access to the content of pallets.
Essential Features of a Pallet Truck
- Steer wheels – Hand-powered pallet trucks come with either nylon or polyurethane wheels.
- Nylon wheels are ideal for working on rough, debris-filled, cold and wet floors where durability is essential. They are also chemically resistant, but they are typically noisy and may leave markings on the floor.
- Polyurethane wheels are less noisy and designed to reduce floor markings. They work best on smooth surfaces because they damage rough ones easily; however, if debris is avoided, they are quite durable.
- Brakes – While most hand-powered pallet tucks lack brakes, some brands do. They are operated by hand to facilitate access. It is best to use one with brakes for employee safety.
How they operate
The pallet jack has a ’tiller’- like lever used to steer it. A small handle on the jack releases hydraulic fluid, allowing the forks to drop. Its front wheel is attached to levers that are attached to linkages that lead to levers in its cylinder. The wheels are forced down by the links as soon as the jack is lifted.
The wheels then raise the forks vertically over the load’s front wheels, lifting it upwards until it leaves the floor. The load is lifted just enough to allow the tool to move without coming into contact with the floor. In the absence of a forklift, a pallet truck can be used to load and organize pallets into a trailer.
In conclusion, these tools are extremely beneficial, but they also have a drawback in that they can cause people to lose their jobs because one person operating it can replace several workers.
