Whether you run a warehouse, retail business, hotel, or office building with many floors, a floor lift can be beneficial for optimising the flow of people and goods. Installing a mezzanine floor in a warehouse, for example, with a lift, can be a game changer for your business as it will allow you to better use the square footage you have.
But how do you know whether you are getting the right lift for your needs? And how do you know whether the lift you are purchasing is a quality product that will stand the test of time?
Many business owners have to consider these problems. Keeping this in mind, we offer a useful checklist to ensure that you are confident in the quality and suitability of your chosen lift.
Choose Your Manufacturer Carefully
It’s important to do some research and look for manufacturing with an established track record within the industry. Online reviews and testimonials from previous clients can be useful here, but make sure to access them on independent websites such as TrustPilot, for example. In addition to this, you should make sure that the manufacturer has the relevant certifications and operates to industry standards. For example, ISO 9001 is a quality management accreditation that can give you confidence that the manufacturer has strict guidelines on the way they operate their business.
Make Sure To Get The Load Capacity And Platform You Need
It’s vital to ensure that the platform size and lift capacity are sufficient for the largest and heaviest load it will move. In these cases, it is best to leave a buffer, or safety margin to ensure that you can be flexible and do not risk overloading your lift. The capacity and dimensions should be clearly labelled on the equipment.
Check The Drive System And Motor
There are various different drive systems that can be operational within floor lifts, including screw drive, traction and hydraulic. It is wise to research the type of system that would work best for your business as well as explore the brand of motor offered to ensure that it is reputable.
If energy efficiency is important to you, and you want to save on operating costs, it is worth considering drive systems and motors that have been manufactured with such efficiency in mind.
Safety Questions
All quality lifts will have an emergency stop button that is clearly visible and easily accessible. It is also wise to choose a lift with a sensor that indicates when the lift is overloaded and stops it from operating if this is the case.
Emergency lowering mechanisms in case of power failure and interlocks on doors and gates are also safety features that are present on most quality floor lifts.
Check The Control System
Quality floor lifts will be easy to use, with intuitive and easy-to-operate controls. If your business needs customisable controls and remote operation, it may be worth looking for a lift with these features.
Maintenance And Support
Within your service contract, the supplier or manufacturer may offer a maintenance plan. It is worth reading into this as it could save you money in the long term and help arrange regular service and maintenance visits without you having to find an outside supplier. It is also wise to check whether technical support is available should you have any issues with your chosen lift.
With all this in mind, you should be able to assess the quality of the goods lift you are considering for your business. Make sure to partner with a supplier who is able to answer all of the questions we have mentioned above, and you should be confident in the quality you are receiving.