You may have considered using narrow aisle forklifts in your factory or warehouse but are they really worth the investment? Do they hold any benefits compared to standard forklifts? In this post, we highlight why some companies might consider narrow aisle forklifts for their working environment.

Safety

Safety is paramount when using a forklift of any kind. Tight and narrow spaces are particularly difficult to manoeuvre around and can increase the likelihood of an accident. However much training a forklift operator has undergone, and no matter how skilled they are, having to manoeuvre a large forklift is tricky business and there’s always room for a mistake in a tight space. This mistake or accident may involve something serious like an injury to a worker, or it may be something less serious, but still concerning, such as damage to equipment or loss of of stock. With a narrow aisle forklift, ease of manoeuvrability is increased even in the smallest and most awkward spaces. They are designed specifically for this purpose and so significantly reduce the chance of accidents.

Cost-effective

There are many reasons that narrow aisle forklifts usually work out cheaper than standard or larger forklifts. From the offset, the machine itself requires less parts and is quicker to produce, making it cheaper to buy or hire. Then, narrow aisle forklifts require less maintenance than other kinds of forklifts because they have a simple and more limited functionality. This also means they very rarely become overused and so they have an increased longevity. And finally, as we highlighted above, accidents are often reduced with narrow aisle forklifts; accidents that can be very costly for a business.

Allows for increased inventory

Generally, businesses want to hold as much stock in their factory or warehouse as possible. But by using larger forklifts, it means that aisles and throughways have to be wider to accommodate the size of the forklifts, and the amount of stock that can be stored is reduced. However, narrow aisle forklifts allow for narrower aisles thus increasing the amount of aisles and stock that can be stored.

Better handling

Narrow aisle forklifts can improve overall material handling because the machines are easier to use, it’s quicker to train drivers on them and they are even suitable for beginners. Due to the ease of use, stock can be moved from A to B much more easily and therefore much more efficiently. Increased efficiency in warehouses and factories can save companies a lot of money in the long run.

Conclusion

It seems narrow aisle forklift trucks really are worth it! In warehouses or factories where there is a lot of material handling, narrow aisle forklifts can increase safety, reduce costs, improve handling and allow for increased stock to be stored.