Changing Forklift Batteries in Small-to-Medium-Sized Fleets

According to the latest analysis from the Industrial Truck Association, there are nearly 540,000 lift truck operators working in the United States today.

Some of those jobs are in enormous distribution centers, but many are scattered across all sorts of industries — warehousing, yes, but also waste management, wholesale trade, retail, and manufacturing, just to name a few. Companies in most of these industries that use forklifts do not operate an enormous fleet, which means they might struggle to find battery handling equipment that gets the job done without overkill.

For those who change forklift batteries several times per day, Solus Group offers a complete line of forklift battery carts and carriages. These heavy-duty steel, side-extraction machines improve efficiency and safety during forklift battery changes, and they're available at several price points to match any application.

The first question to ask when investing in forklift battery handling equipment is: How many batteries must you change in a day? Here's the battery changer to choose based on the answer:

• 1-5 Battery Changes per Day

  Operations that run a single electric lift truck can simplify battery change-outs with a Battery Transfer Carriage from Solus Group. These mobile, adjustable extractors allow a single employee to change a forklift battery in under 10 minutes. Meanwhile, a durable powder coat finish and a six-roller bed resist electrolyte and scratches.

• 1-10 Battery Changes per Day

  Some applications don't require powered battery handling equipment. The Walkie Transfer Carriage from Solus Group mounts firmly to your pallet truck to transform it into a dependable battery extractor. A powerful hook-and-chain attaches to battery cases, allowing the operator to easily rotate the handwheel for safe, comfortable extraction.

• 11-20 Battery Changes per Day

  As your forklift battery collection grows, the financial benefits of powered battery handling equipment compound. Automatic Transfer Carriages, which also mount onto existing pallet trucks, allow an operator to change a forklift battery in five minutes or less.

  A steel push-pull arm operates via hydraulic power, quickly gliding batteries out of their compartments, and gently pushing a fresh battery in.

• 21-50 Battery Changes per Day

  When your battery fleet reaches this size, the Mobile Battery Extractor provides the most value. This full-service battery changer is completely self-contained, so it doesn't need to be mounted to a spare pallet truck.

  Choose a capacity of 4,000 or 5,000 pounds, based on the size of batteries in your fleet. Then decide whether the extractor-arm should attach to battery cases via vacuum or magnet. (The magnet extraction is better for thin-profile batteries; otherwise, vacuum is probably your best bet.

  Mobile Battery Extractors change batteries in just 3-5 minutes in the hands of an experienced operator.

According to the industry journal Food Logistics, lift truck manufacturers expect fleet sizes to shrink in the coming years. Automation, right-sizing, and better lift truck management will allow operations to achieve their goals with fewer forklifts on the floor.

Battery carts and carriages from Solus Group are ideal for the smaller battery fleets of the future — as well as fleets of all sizes today.

References:

"Lifting America - The Economic Impact of Industrial Truck Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers." IndTrk. Industrial Truck Association, June 2017. Web. 8 Aug. 2017.

Maras, Elliot. "How Data Metrics Revolutionizes Lift Truck Management." FoodLogistics. AC Business Media, 25 Feb. 2016. Web. 8 Aug. 2017.