Stand up and see the benefits: Five reasons to shift to stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks

It has long been clear that lift trucks are important for tactical activities in warehouse and distribution facilities. Recently, their strategic value has become equally important; businesses are realizing the advantages of investing in lift trucks to run better and manage smarter.

Specifically, stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks can increase productivity with faster, smoother operation from dock to stock. They feature a clear line of sight in every direction for efficient handling and stacking. Shorter head lengths also allow for maneuverability in tight spaces.

In some cases, facility managers consider both stand-up and sit-down counterbalanced lift trucks. Although selecting the right lift truck is heavily dependent on the application, there are many benefits of stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks to be considered. When evaluating their lift truck fleet, facility managers can keep in mind the following reasons to shift to stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks:

• Easy on-and-off access. If your application requires an operator to frequently go from on the lift truck to off the lift truck, a stand-up counterbalanced lift truck is the ideal piece of equipment to use. Stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks have step heights approximately nine inches off of the ground, whereas sit-down counterbalanced lift trucks are 15 to 20 inches off the ground. This allows for easier on and off for operators. Additionally, stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks do not require seatbelts or harnesses. For this reason, entering and exiting a stand-up counterbalanced lift truck is more efficient.
• Greater visibility. Applications that require an operator to drive in reverse or look backward are better suited for stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks. Designed with a dock stance, stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks allow for increased operator visibility — especially as operators reverse or look backward. In these instances, an operator only has to turn his or her head 90 degrees, versus 180 degrees with a sit-down counterbalanced lift truck. Some stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks feature open-view masts, which provide operators with a clearer line of sight to the load.
• Maneuverability. Stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks have a shorter head length and independent dual drive, which enable maneuverability through tight spaces and corners. Because the design of a stand-up counterbalanced lift truck is narrower than that of a sit-down counterbalanced lift truck, its smaller dimensions allow navigation with precision — which is especially important in crowded docks and small spaces.
• Heavier loads. High-residual capacity loads can be better with stand-up lift trucks — specifically stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks. Powerful load capacities of 3,000 to 5,000 pounds are possible through stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks. These lift trucks evenly distribute full-rated capacities up to 200 inches, which is important when attachments, cross-docking and dock-to-stock runs are required.
• Battery flexibility. Stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks use batteries that can be easily swapped in Class II lift trucks, allowing for a common size battery for the fleet.

In your high-density warehouse or distribution facility, stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks provide visibility, maneuverability, comfort and speed — paving a smooth road to productivity.

For more information, please visit www.raymondcorp.com.