All warehouse owners and administrators want to invest in a sturdy and durable pallet jack. The forklift easily moves pallets and heavy equipment around the facility, making it a valuable machine for everyday operations. It comes in different sizes, too, making it suitable for virtually all industries.
If you’re looking for pallet jacks for sale to upgrade old forklifts or expand your collection, you might come across manual and electric variants. But which one is suitable for your business?
Total Warehouse discusses the pros and cons of each one to help you decide.
Manual Pallet Jacks
Manual pallet jacks are hand-powered jacks used for lifting, lowering and steering pallets within a warehouse. This type of pallet jack is relatively simple to use. There’s a lever that lets you raise, lower or suspend the pallets it’s carrying. The operator can adjust the lever up and down until the pallet is raised to the desired height. The manual pallet jack is most commonly used in retail and personal warehouse facilities.
Here are some good reasons to invest in a manual pallet jack:
- Lightweight and compact design that is easy to maneuver
- Simple design that requires little training for operators
- Used in every industry to move and stack inventory
- Doesn’t require much maintenance and upkeep
- Low initial cost and maintenance cost
But while manual pallet jacks are used with most pallet types and sizes, the total capacity still depends on how much the weight the operator can handle. Moving heavy pallets around the facility, therefore, might be slow and strenuous. And because it’s operated manually, there are greater chances of operator injuries.
Electric Pallet Jacks
Electric pallet jacks for sale typically cost more than their manual counterpart. This is often what warehouse owners and administrators worry about. But this pallet jack’s contribution to productivity and efficiency easily outweighs the cost. It has an electric motor that powers the pallet truck and raises and lowers the forks.
Additionally, an operator can use an electric pallet jack for hours on end before it needs to recharge.
These benefits might convince you to choose an electric pallet jack for your warehousing needs:
- Lack of manual lifting reduces injuries and strain on operators
- Streamlined movement of heavy pallets in large facilities
- Increased productivity and faster lifting/moving times
- Ideal for lifting and moving tall pallet stacks
- Versatile jack lengths and sizes
Keep in mind, however, that electric pallet jacks generally cost more than manual pallet jacks. Operators need to undergo training before getting behind one of these machines. And because they have electric components, they would require greater maintenance and upkeep than manual pallet jacks.
Have you decided on the right pallet jack for you?
Remember these points when purchasing a pallet jack. If you’re still undecided on whether you should get an electric or a manual variant, schedule a consultation with your trusted pallet jack provider. They will help you make an informed decision that maximizes the return on your machine investment.
