Unique Lifts for Confined Spaces: Big Joe & Marriotti

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In the material handling industry, there is always new equipment coming to the marketplace. But how do you know if this new equipment is valuable to you and your business? It is important to stay informed and be aware of what benefits the equipment holds for you. We are proud to offer not only forklifts, but also industrial vehicles of many brands, including Big Joe and Mariotti. Recently, both of these brands revealed new models that are sure to benefit your workplace.

Big Joe recently announced a new Task Support vehicle suitably named the J1 “Joey” Task Support Vehicle. Designed for simplicity, this vehicle is compact and makes working at an elevated height safe, easy and productive. The Joey is electric and runs over 4.5 hours on a single battery charge. Since it is electric, there are fewer moving parts, resulting in less maintenance upkeep for you. In addition, the Joey can carry a capacity to 1000 lbs. and has a 16ft working height, giving you improved productivity thanks to the elimination of stock ladders. The Joey has great steering, and can complete a full turn in a 72” aisle.

Mariotti is known for producing the most compact electric rider forklifts on the market and their newest model of AC forklifts are no exception. Mariotti’s new line of AC sit-down forklifts are able to work in tight, compact spaces where no other forklift can normally operate, each possessing capacities of lifting between 750lbs to 2,300lbs. This allows you to complete your work in different environments. These forklifts can drive through aisles as narrow as 31 inches, and heights as low as 75 inches. In addition, they can also maneuver through elevators and doorways and successfully distribute a heavy load. The Mariotti AC forklift has mast heights from 113” to 224,” with side shift and power steering. As with the aforementioned Big Joe, the Mariotti AC lift also has fewer moving parts and less maintenance needs. For added operator safety, the Mariotti  comes complete with a strobe light and back-up alarm as standard equipment.

Both of these models are designed to operate in tight, confined spaces. They are ideal for hospitals, universities and smaller warehouses in metropolitan areas. If your business is planning on expanding its fleet this year, contact us to learn more about the benefits of these unique lifts!

Check out the videos below for more information!

Big Joe J1 Joey

Mariotti AC sit-down forklifts

How to Know When to Rent vs. Buy a Forklift

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Renting a forklift for your in-plant projects has many benefits.  For example, while you are renting the forklift, any repairs for equipment you currently own can be addressed. Another benefit is that it allows you to try the latest advances in equipment technology with our late model rental fleet. At Wisconsin Lift Truck, we will even come to your jobsite to provide you with insight on which piece of equipment would work best for you. Try equipment out before you buy it…that just makes sense. However, renting often has a higher long-term cost, so consideration should be given. Because renting is more expensive than leasing; it’s more costly than buying, so each angle should be examined. If your project is going to be short term, renting could be a great option.

If your warehouse or work site uses your forklifts every day for many hours, buying is more likely the better option to consider. The cost of renting a forklift is offset in some margin by the benefits mentioned here but long term renting should be discussed with a material handling professional that can help guide you in the correct choice given a specific requirement. In addition, owning a forklift is considered an asset—if you wish to sell it in the future to upgrade, there in most cases is a value to that towards the purchase or lease of your upgrade.

To make your decision, call the professionals and schedule a free consult to help your company figure out the best and most cost saving option. Contact Wisconsin Lift Truck today!

80 Volt Lift Trucks: What You Need to Know

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So, you’ve seen our promotions for high efficiency 80 volt electrics trucks and you’re intrigued, so you asked your current forklift supplier about 80 volt electrics and they told you there was no advantage to going with 80 volt trucks other than for opportunity charging…..are we correct?    Well your current vendor was only half right…..there may not be an advantage with THEIR 80 volt truck because all 80 volt trucks are definitely NOT created equal.

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Scheduled Maintenance Program: Why It Matters

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For businesses like yours, guaranteeing that a forklift fleet is functioning smoothly is vital to maintaining a company’s productivity and efficiency levels. But choosing the right forklift based on the company’s operations is not enough. A carefully chosen service plan is also necessary to prevent costly downtime and unnecessary repair bills that can affect your bottom line. Continue reading →

A Forklift’s IP Rating: What Does it Mean to Our Customers?

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An IP rating – Ingress Protection – is an indicator composed of two numbers that describe the level of protection an electric forklift has against environmental situations. The first digit refers to the protection against dust:

0 – No special protection

1 – Protection from a large part of the body such as a hand (but no protection from deliberate access); from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter

2 – Protection against fingers or other object not greater than 80mm in length and 12mm in diameter

3 – Protection from entry by tools, wires, etc., with a diameter of thickness greater than 1.0mm

4 – Protection from entry by solid objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 1.0mm

5 – Protection from the amount of dust that would interfere with the operation of the equipment

6 – Dust tight

 While the second digit is the level of water protection:

0 – No special protection

1 – Protection from a large part of the body such as a hand (but no protection from deliberate access); from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter

2 – Protection against fingers or other object not great than 80mm in length and 12mm in diameter

3 – Protection from entry by tools, wires, etc., with a diameter of thickness greater than 1.0mm

4 – Protection from entry by solid objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 1.0mm

5 – Protection from the amount of dust that would interfere with the operation of the equipment

6 – Dust tight

Simply put, these IP ratings are guidelines for customers wanting to know how well protected an electric forklift is against dirty and wet environments. For dust protection, the highest number is 6; and for water protection, 7. As an example, a forklift rated as IP54 offers a good level of overall protection from solid and liquid objects.

Each individual electrical component of a lift truck has its own IP rating.  The overall IP rating of a truck is therefore equal to the lowest IP rating of any individual component.   For example, the motors and controllers on a truck could have a very good IP rating of IP65.   However, the key switch, because it has a hole to accept the key, might be only rated at IP44, therefore the whole truck would be rated at IP44.

Bottom line: IP ratings allow us to easily identify a truck’s ability to perform when exposed to dirt and moisture as well as the ability to be washed down which is crucial in industries such as food and beverage. To learn about IP rating’s of our electric forklifts, please get in touch with Wisconsin Lift Trucks today.

Forklifts: Safety Tips for Operators

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Every year, many workers are killed and others severely injured in forklift accidents. Although the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has strict guidelines on how to safely operate forklifts, the number of accidents and injuries workers suffer is still unacceptable. Continue reading →

Internal Combustion Versus AC Driven Forklift Trucks

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Electric forklifts have taken over the material handling industry! Whether it’s been a slow transition due to the fear of cost or just a general fear of change, the benefits of transitioning from an internal combustion (IC) to an electric motor lift truck (AC) are important to know. From increased performance to environmental impact, the AC driven lift trucks have definitely started to trend.

So, what are the benefits of electric-powered industrial trucks? We compiled a list of the most important advantages:

  • Higher performance: These trucks allow for better acceleration, faster speeds (up to 12.5 mph), better ramp hold, and a smoother shift form forward to reverse (and vice versa), which increases operator productivity.
  • Reduced energy consumption: Electric forklifts utilize approximately 30 percent less energy than traditional IC motor trucks. Also, an AC power system will allow the forklift to operate, even when the battery charge runs low – something that IC powered trucks can’t do.
  • Reduced maintenance: Simply put, electric trucks have fewer moving parts than a forklift with an internal combustion (IC) engine. In other words, fewer repairs and less maintenance expense!
  • Lower fuel costs: An AC forklift may need about $4 worth of electricity to function, while IC trucks may need $10 in fuel.
  • Environmentally friendly: Unlike an IC motor truck, electric forklifts produce no harmful emissions, no harmful particulates and no odors!

Industrial truck manufacturers are constantly searching for ways to make electric AC motors more efficient and more user-friendly while meeting air regulation standards. So, it’ll be interesting to see the how these trucks evolve over the next few years.

Be sure to keep posted to our blog so you can stay informed about the latest material handling news.

New 80-Volt Technology Lift Trucks

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A few years ago, internal combustion (IC) forklifts were the most prevalent trucks in the material handling industry. Today, companies prefer electric lift trucks with AC drive technology for their operations.

Even though the industry has shown interest for AC-driven forklift trucks since their introduction to the market, its limited load capacity was a major disadvantage. Thanks to recent technological advancements in 48-volt and 80-volt AC motors, electric lift trucks have since captivated the material handling industry.Traditionally, IC-powered forklifts have been used for their ability to move heavy loads efficiently over any terrain. Also, these trucks are considered to lift materials faster, reach higher speeds and accelerate quicker than other trucks.

These days, electric AC motors, especially the 80-volt series, have proven to run 15-20 hours on a single battery charge and provide the same or better performance benefits as internal combustion trucks, plus other advantages such as reduced energy consumption and reduced maintenance expenses. Furthermore, a quieter engine in the 80 volts allow operators to work for longer and more comfortable hours of forklift utilization since less vibration is transferred from the motor to the seat, steering wheel and floorboard.

At Wisconsin Lift Truck, we offer 80-volt forklifts because we believe these trucks provide the highest efficiency for your operation, without harmful emissions. Find out more about this type of forklift truck by contacting us today!

Wisconsin Lift Truck’s 50th Anniversary

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What determines a company’s success? Is it the credibility they’ve been able to build over time or is it simply their ability to stay in business? At Wisconsin Lift Truck, we believe that the true success can only be measured by customers’ satisfaction and good relationships with other stakeholders, such as suppliers, friends and the community.

Judging by the number of accolades we have humbly received over the course of our 50 years, we’ve proven to be a strong and sound company, committed to providing quality services, products and solutions to our clients.

At the end of the day, our search for excellence is driven by the material handling solutions we’ve been able to provide our satisfied customers. There’s nothing more rewarding than a job performed that exceeds expectations.

As we look back, we’ve asked ourselves: how did we get here?  The answer is simple—we didn’t get here by ourselves! The long-lasting support we’ve received from our loyal customers is what has allowed us to now be celebrating 50 years in material handling; and we couldn’t be more thankful!

Being successful, however, would have no real meaning for us if we weren’t able to give back to our community. By getting involved and playing an active role in organizations and events around the community, we strive to contribute towards local development and sustainable growth.

Looking for a material handling company that treats your company’s requirements with a sense of urgency? Contact Wisconsin Lift Truck! We’ll provide you the material handling solutions to help you successfully achieve your business goals.