Nowadays, forklifts are widely used in many enterprises and factories. With the advancement of technology, the requirements for warehousing and logistics operations are become higher, thus more and more types of forklifts. They are mainly divided into electric forklifts, electric pallet trucks, electric stackers, reach trucks, tow tractors, order pickers, narrow-aisle forklifts, four-way forklifts, and multi-directional forklifts, etc. How customers choose a forklift that suits their working environment is a top priority. How to choose a suitable forklift?
The selection of models and configurations according to the working conditions, we should generally start from the following aspects:
(1) Working environment
If the forklift is used for work outside the warehouse, generally choose a GAS forklift, LPG forklift, and diesel forklift; if used indoors (such as warehouse, workshop), generally choose an electric forklift. Compared with diesel forklifts, the main advantages of electric forklifts are low noise and no pollution.
If used in a cold storage warehouse or an environment with explosion-proof requirements, the forklift configuration should be a cold storage type or an explosion-proof type.
Whether the door height affects the forklift when entering and leaving the warehouse; whether the elevator height and bearing load affect the forklift when entering and leaving the elevator; whether the floor bearing load meets the corresponding requirements when working upstairs, and so on.
(2) Operating functions
The basic operating functions of forklifts are divided into horizontal handling, stacking/picking, loading/unloading, and picking. MiMA models suitable for horizontal handling include ME series pallet trucks with load capacity from 2tonto 6ton; customized trucks with load capacity from 8ton to 30ton;
The models suitable for stacking/picking include MB, MBB, MBC, MBD series pallet stackers, MF, MFZ series reach trucks; MC, MCA series three-way forklifts; MJ20 articulated forklifts; MQ, MQZ, TFC series multi-directional forklifts;
The models suitable for loading/unloading include TKA, TKC, MK series electric forklift;

According to the operating functions, you can preliminarily determine the desired model from the above models.

(3) Job requirements
The operational requirements of the forklift include general requirements such as pallet or cargo size, lifting height, working aisle width, climbing degree, etc. Meanwhile, we also need to consider operation efficiency (different models have different efficiencies), operation habits ( sitting or standing)  , and other requirements. Take an example below:
1) How much weight is your cargo? What are the pallet or cargo dimensions? How many meters does it need to be lifted ? How much load is required at maximum height? How long are the working hours?
2) Is the warehouse floor flat, and is there any slope? What is the roof height ? Does the door height affect the stacker when entering or leaving? Whether to enter or exit the elevator, does the elevator height and bearing load affects the stacker?
3) If you are going to use it in the shelf area, what is the type of shelf? What’s the distance between shelves?

Different warehousing modes require different forklifts,and the matching mode achieved in the first-in first-out or first-in-last-out, space utilization, operation efficiency and investment costs will be very different.
To buy a forklift, you need to find a company with a complete range of forklift types and models, so that you have a relatively large space for purchase, such as MiMA forklifts which has a full range of electric material handling equipment.The above steps make it easy to choose a forklift that suits your use!
Should you have any new inquiry or demand, welcome to contact MiMA for more information.MiMA will provide you the most suitable electric forklift and electric material handling equipment based on your requirement.