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The best time to replace material handling equipment is not always obvious. If you replace equipment too soon, you may not be getting the full return on your investment. Replace it too late, however, and you may encounter production and capacity issues in addition to unscheduled and unexpected financial costs. Not to worry. We will explain the key factors to keep in mind to help you know when to buy a new forklift or other piece of material handling equipment.

Warehouse safety should be an essential part of your day-to-day operations, and the best way to ensure that safety remains a focus for all employees is to create a safety management plan. Why is warehouse safety so important? Because it can affect so many aspects of the organization, including productivity and efficiency, as well as employee well-being and morale.

Demand fluctuates in nearly every industry. Warehouse operations will go through cycles of peaks and valleys throughout the year as well. With those fluctuations, two negative effects can happen:

• In peak times, facilities may not have enough capacity.
• In less-busy periods, equipment may sit unused for weeks or months.

Each of these issues can affect your overall cost efficiency and bottom line. Seasonal forklift rentals are an ideal way to counteract those negative effects. You also get more control over the equipment you keep on hand and greater flexibility to match resources to volume.

Your operations do not stop once the weather turns colder. During this time of year, it is important to prepare your forklifts and other material handling equipment to ensure continued reliable performance — despite the frigid environment.

Failing to prepare equipment for winter can lead to increased malfunctions and maintenance requirements, as well as damage to machines and components. In the sections below, you will learn about winter forklift maintenance, why it is important and how to conduct it properly.