Pallet trucks: make the right choice

The pallet jack makes handling heavy loads mounted on European-type pallets or lost pallets easier. Manual, semi-electric, or electric, the available models differ in their load capacity ranging from 1.5 tons to 3.5 tons.

Some information to know about manual pallet jacks:

- they are commonly used in goods depots and workshops;

- they are suited to occasional handling;

- their load capacity varies from 1 ton to 3 tons depending on the lifting height (200 mm to 800 mm);

- they are equipped with forks of 800 mm or 1,500 mm;

- they have wheels and rollers made of nylon, rubber, polyurethane, or vulkollan;

- they feature a chassis made of steel or stainless steel.

Semi-electric models provide an alternative:

- some models are equipped with an electric assist lifting mechanism, but are moved by the operator’s physical effort;

- others have an electric motor that makes them easy to move, but their lifting mechanism is manual;

- they save time while reducing the operator's workload.

Electric models represent the top of the range:

- the operator benefits from electric assistance for both lifting loads and moving them;

- these devices are suitable for frequent handling activities;

- they are appropriate for large warehouses;

- they are equipped with an emergency stop button;

- a button on the tiller allows reversing the direction of travel.

Ultimately, the choice of a pallet jack depends on the frequency of use, but also on the warehouse size. It should be noted that companies are obligated to internally train the operators of these machines to reduce the risk of accidents.