In recent years, the commercial and industrial industries have reached new heights; demands on the various specifications of the projects are constantly being redefined in order for the best quality product to be achieved. Therefore, the best equipment is required in order to facilitate the envisioned final product.

The forklift is a critical handling solution that allows all types of material to be moved quickly and efficiently and in so doing, increases productivity and dramatically cuts operation costs. However, there are a wide range of forklifts available and one needs to be well-informed in order to make the choice of which one will suit their needs.

There are two types of fuel that power these machines: diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); there is also a more eco-friendly option that is electrically powered. Diesel models use a conventional internal combustion engine to drive the forklift and hydraulics; however the downside is that you have normal diesel emissions which are not ideal in a closed environment. Therefore, they are more suited to outdoor construction projects.

LPG models use gas (from gas cylinders) and the emissions are a lot lower. They also have the benefit of switching to petrol should the need arise so they are ideal for dual indoor and outdoor applications however the running costs are a lot higher.

Electric models which run off batteries, there are zero emissions and the running costs are the lowest of the three. However, the initial cost of the machine is higher and another downside is that they can only operate for one shift and then you need to put the battery on charge. One way of getting around this is to buy multiple batteries, however this requires an additional capital outlay. Once your decision has been made of which model meets your requirements, you need to establish whether purchase or rental is your best option.

If you are involved in an outdoor construction project, then the diesel forklift is your best option, as it has a far better fuel efficiency compared to the other forklifts. The rental option is also much more affordable over an extended period of time and the costs of maintenance and repairs that you will need to pay if you purchase a diesel forklift. If you rent, you will not be responsible for these added costs. An added advantage to diesel forklift for hire is that the rates you are charged are calculated according to the amount of hours that you use the equipment and not according to the amount of days that the forklift is in your possession so you won’t be paying for time when the forklift is not in operation.

According to Dieter Glockle of Manhand, “the most popular model is diesel, followed by the electric and LPG forklifts. Therefore, it is easy to deduce that the diesel version of the forklift, whether purchased or rented, is the preferred model for consumers.