With the continuous promotion of low-carbon logistics concepts in the material handling sector, electric forklifts have gradually become one of the core equipment for warehouse, port and manufacturing plant operations, bringing unique advantages in low noise, zero local emissions and low long-term operation cost compared with fuel-powered counterparts. Many practitioners still have confusion in giving full play to the equipment’s value through standardized use and reasonable maintenance, and this guide sorts out practical points from multiple operation dimensions for reference.

Standardized Daily Operation Specification

Before each operation shift, operators need to finish a full range of pre-use checks, including confirming remaining battery capacity, testing brake system sensitivity, observing whether the fork arms have obvious deformation, and checking the wear condition of walking tires. During the operation process, personnel shall strictly abide by the rated load limit of the equipment, and do not carry out overload operation for a long time. When driving in narrow warehouse aisles, keep a safe low speed, and give prompt signals in advance when turning to avoid collision with surrounding facilities. When lifting goods, no personnel are allowed to stay under the suspended fork arm, and the fork arm shall be lowered to a safe low position for long-distance transport of heavy goods to reduce the risk of goods falling. When leaving the operation position for a long time, operators need to lower the fork arm completely to the ground and cut off the power supply, which can effectively reduce unexpected wear and extend the overall service life of the equipment.

Scientific Routine Maintenance Strategy

The regular maintenance work of electric forklifts does not require overly complex procedures. After each shift, operators need to clean the dust and residual sundries accumulated on the equipment shell and heat dissipation holes in time to avoid affecting the normal heat dissipation of the core electrical components. It is necessary to check regularly whether there are oxidation traces on the connecting terminals of the battery pack, and complete the charging and discharging process in accordance with the standard specifications given by the manufacturer. It is not recommended to recharge the battery until the power is completely exhausted, nor to keep the equipment in overcharge state for a long time. The sealing elements of the hydraulic system need to be checked periodically to avoid the leakage of hydraulic oil which affects the lifting stability, and the connecting parts of the steering system should be lubricated on schedule to reduce the operation jam. The maintenance work shall be completed by professionally trained personnel, and non-professionals are not advised to disassemble the core components without permission.

Scenario-based Efficiency Optimization Measures

For different application scenarios, operation teams can adjust the matching schemes to improve the overall using effect. In the high-frequency continuous operation warehouse scenario, a set of spare battery packs can be configured for quick replacement, so as to reduce the idle waiting time caused by charging. In the open-air operation scenario with low temperature and high humidity, the battery can be equipped with matching protective insulation kits to avoid the reduction of available battery capacity caused by low temperature environment. In the factory transfer scenario that requires long-distance movement, the driving route can be planned reasonably to reduce unnecessary detour, and the goods can be placed on the pallet in a standardized and orderly way to reduce the ineffective operation of single handling. Following the above operation and maintenance points can help industrial operators obtain more stable performance output from electric forklift equipment, and create more practical value for daily material handling work.