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Pallet Jacks For All Lifting Needs

dgscribe | Sep 9, 2009 |

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One of the most necessary pieces of equipment for the warehouse floor, particularly if there are heavy pallets that must be moved around, is the pallet jack. Also known by the name pallet truck, the pallet jack is a piece of equipment especially designed to hook into the gap in a pallet and able to lift it high enough off the floor to comfortably move it.

The cheapest and most common types of pallet jacks are the manually operated jacks that require the operator to pump the handle up and down to hoist the load. Once the pallet has been lifted the operator can then push the load to wherever it needs to be moved.

A manual pallet jack can be bought in a variety of sizes depending on the size of the load that is being moved and the size of the pallets that are being used. Before you make the commitment to buying a new pallet jack you must first become familiar with exactly what the loads are that you will be most commonly working with. A pallet jack with forks too wide to fit into the pallets you use is a waste of money. Similarly a jack that is too small for the loads commonly lifted can become a occupational hazard.

Manual pallet jacks aren't the only types of jack options open to you. Powered pallet jacks are also an option, most working by use of a battery. These pieces of equipment can lift heavier loads and can either be operated whilst sitting or standing. The hoist can be a matter of simply pushing a button and they can be used to load a pallet onto the back of a truck.

Pallet jacks can be bought as either fixed fork or adjustable fork options. The adjustable options allow you to change the size of the forks so that it can be safely used to shift smaller pallets and then widened so that a larger pallet can be moved in equal safety.

Outdoor pallet jacks are also available. These pieces of machinery are gasoline powered and are designed to move pallets over uneven ground. Smaller factory pallet jacks are generally not used on uneven terrain, firstly because they don't lift the pallets particularly high off the ground and secondly because the wheels have not been designed for such use.

There is quite a large variety of pallet jacks available, both in their size and their lifting capabilities. They are designed especially for factory, outdoor or sensitive materials lifting and they can be operated manually or electric powered. Find the one suitable for your needs and make sure you follow the safety instructions for the correct operation of them.