The Materials Handling Industry's Tireless Little Helper!
24 November 2022
The pallet truck – or pallet jack – was conceived and patented by two New York businessmen in 1939.
The arrival of the pallet truck revolutionised the materials handling industry, and it is still a critical player in the modern era!
The pallet truck epitomises engineering simplicity, but in the last century, it has received a few upgrades that have enhanced its performance and improved workplace productivity and worker safety.
Let’s look at some of these advances and what they have done for the industry.
Electric Pallet Trucks
The electric pallet truck outperforms its manual counterpart where use is frequent, loads are large and shifts long.
The combination of electrical lifting and electrically-powered driving means that users are no longer required to push or pull heavy loads, reducing the risk of injury due to physical strain.
Electrically-powered trucks also mean significantly increased lift capacities.
4-Way Pallet Trucks or Low-Profile Pallet Jacks
The 4-way pallet truck's design is specific to the lifting requirements of the NZ Blue CHEP pallet.
The fork windows on the Blue CHEP pallets are smaller than other pallets. 4-way pallet trucks have a lower minimum lift height and can slide through these smaller gaps, regardless of which way the pallet is facing.
Pallet Trucks with Scales
This advancement is both a productivity and time-saving dream come true! No more double-handling.
With scales built into the forks, these pallet trucks allow your team to pick up a load and weigh it in one move.
The pallet truck has always been a valuable asset for the material handling industry.
While its core use has not evolved, all advances in its engineering have resulted in improved functionality and greater efficiency across the sector.
Where would we be without them?
