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Comparing Forklift Battery Stands for Vertical Vs. Side-Extraction Trucks


The ideal storage solution for industrial batteries depends on your forklifts themselves. Before you can stock your battery room with the right infrastructure, you'll need to evaluate the lift truck fleet to choose the equipment that will provide the fastest, safest battery changes every time.

Start with the fleet's battery compartments. There are two basic designs in today's forklift industry. A vertical-extraction battery compartment opens so that gantry cranes can pull batteries out, depositing them on nearby stands.

Side-extraction compartments, on the other hand, feature roller beds behind a removable panel or safety stop on the side of the truck. This design allows a battery extractor to safely pull batteries out for installation in charging stands.

While there's no doubt that side-extraction is the safer option, many fleets remain configured for vertical battery handling. Regardless of how your lift trucks are configured, install a stand that works in perfect concert with your existing forklift fleet.

Storage for Common Battery Handling Configurations

All other components being equal, there’s one key difference between stands designed for lateral battery extractors and those built to work with overhead gantries: the construction of the battery bed. Here’s what to look for:

    Hardwood Battery Station

  1. Battery stands for side extraction lift truck fleets: If your forklifts offer access to the battery compartment through their flanks, choose a battery stand with rollers. These reduce wear on battery cases and battery handling equipment during change-outs. And there’s no chance that a battery could roll out accidentally; all Battery Roller Stands from Solus Group are equipped with safety stops to prevent` spills.
  2. Forklift battery stands for vertical extraction: It’s important to choose battery stands with a flat, durable surface versus a rolling surface. If you remove forklift batteries vertically, choose a stand with a tough, acid-resistant base, like Hardwood Battery Stations from Solus Group.

Features To Look For in Every Forklift Battery Stand

Battery stands for either type of forklift battery compartment have more similarities than differences. The challenges of handling forklift batteries remain the same, after all. So while there is that one crucial difference, there are also a few features that should be present on every forklift battery stand:

  1. A heavy duty steel frame that’s designed for the weight of a forklift battery.
  2. An acid-resistant and scratch-proof powder coating.
  3. Acid-resistant battery beds, either rolling or stationary.
  4. Compatibility with easily-accessed Drip Pans.
  5. Cable management features, such as Cable Retractor mounting holes or cable routing holes.

All the forklift battery stands from Solus Group offer these benefits. If your battery stands lack any of these features, it’s time for an upgrade; choose a storage device that protects your considerable investment in batteries. Whether you run a fleet that’s configured for vertical- or side-extraction, you can find the toughest, most maintenance-free battery stands at Solusgrp.com.

References:

Shumay, William. “Battery Compartment Concerns.” Arconequipment. Arcon Equipment Inc., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.