Clark Forklifts

Used Forklifts in Michigan - Safety Standards

2011-08-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

Michigan is home to a number of industries, but the agricultural and food processing industries are two of the biggest. If you are working in any sort of industrial or warehouse processing environment, chances are high that you will have a strong need for used forklifts to help move heavy loads. Some of the largest food processing plants can stretch on for miles, and need qualified vehicles that will be able to safely and efficiently move these supplies from one end to the other. Before making your decision about which vehicles to purchase, there are a few factors to take into consideration.

Safety should always come first when looking at the different used forklifts. There are approximately 85 forklift fatalities per year, according to OSHA statistics. These can usually be prevented with requiring certification of all the employees who are going to be driving your used forklifts. Because forklifts may vary slightly depending on the make and model, before you make any new or used purchases you will want to take them for test drives. A test drive can help you learn a lot about a vehicle. During the test drive you will want to take the forklift on any of the regular positions that are used in your work environment.

Some of these safety maneuvers that you can start out with when testing the used forklifts include a series of figure eights, and gunning the forklift to a minimum of five miles per hour before making a sudden a stop. In a crowded and stressful food manufacturing plant, it is necessary to be able to put the brakes on quickly and reliably, to avoid injuries such as pinning workers to the wall or in between two forklifts. Forklift crashes are rare but they have been known to happen as well.

Another safety precaution to take when beginning the process of comparing used forklifts is to ask to see all maintenance records. If a vehicle has had recurring problems in the past with something serious such as its braking abilities, you will probably want to pass on it no matter how cost-effective it is. Be sure to also take a close look at tires, by testing them immediately. Some recommend the “kick test” of tires, but the most important thing is simply to test the pressure that they are able to withstand. Also, because tires are something that can be easily replaced, this may not be the most important issue to contend with. The vehicle’s safety features as a whole should be looked at by a qualified mechanic.

Tips for Buying Used Clark Forklifts

2010-11-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

Although forklifts may be associated primarily with large warehouse operations, they can also be used in typical work setting that include grocery stores, food processing plants, and retail stores. Anywhere where there may be a warehouse that has bulky or heavy items that need to be moved from one point to another is a good candidate for a forklift. Clark is one of the world’s leading brands of forklift manufacturers, with over 350,000 units currently in operation. To find used Clark forklifts for sale, there are a number of different outlets that you could look at.

However, before you begin the process of looking at all the various used Clark forklifts for sale, it’s also a good idea to first start thinking about what exactly you are going to be using your lift truck for. If you only need it for a short term purpose, or don’t think that you will be using it on a daily basis, you may be able to get away with a more heavily used model. However, if you think that you will be using this on a daily basis as part of a larger fleet of forklifts, then the newer models could be worth paying more money for.

Those newer models of used Clark forklifts for sale generally are the product of expired leases on these forklifts. Many businesses choose to only rent them rather than purchase them, because they may only need them for one specific move or contracting project. In those cases, it makes no sense to make a full purchase of a sometimes costly yet eternally useful item. You could expect to pay anywhere from 10-15% more for a gently used item that has been leased out before as opposed to one being sold by the owner.

Another factor to pay attention to when looking at the different used Clark forklifts for sale is their safety levels and current state of repair. It’s highly recommended to have an expert take a look at the forklift before you agree to purchase anything, because they may be able to notice items about it that you aren’t able to. Pay special attention to the mast and its current state of mobility, as well as to the brakes. Most forklift accidents are caused by braking problems, so this is something that is extremely important to test before purchasing anything used.

Clark Forklift Parts

2010-09-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

One of the top brands of forklifts is Clark, which has over 350,000 units currently in operation. These are ideal for those who need a quality product to help them with their merchandising needs or any other types of warehouse mobility issues. One facet of the Clark brand that sets them apart from other brands on the market is that Clark forklift parts are also made by Clark in their factories, rather than being outsourced from somewhere else. That helps ensure that they are made to fit perfectly into either your existing Clark forklift, or into a new one that you are modifying.

It is vital to make sure that you give your forklift regular maintenance checkups. Although nothing may seem like it is wrong, one malfunctioning part could lead to injury or death. According to OSHA statistics, there are 85 forklift fatalities each year, many of which are preventable. The best way to prevent accidents is a combination of proper training and forklift maintenance. If you have a Clark machine, Clark forklift parts are readily available from any dealer and can make a world of difference in the overall function of the machinery.

The first step towards learning more about the different Clark forklift parts and how they will operate within your current system is to take a look at the website, or read your owner’s guide.

Taking apart the forklift by yourself is not recommended and should always be completed with the assistance of a qualified mechanical professional. Mechanics that are skilled specifically with the inner workings of a Clark machine can be found at a dealership, although larger repair companies may also be familiar with the specific part types that you need.

If you already know the type of Clark forklift parts that you need to order, these could be ordered online, purchase from a certified Clark dealer, or bought from another supply shop. There is an automated system that all Clark dealers and service technicians have access to that lists the current prices and availability of these parts, which can make the process of purchasing the right one at the lowest price a far less tedious process and get the job done right away. These parts come with a guarantee or warranty in many cases, so if the part turns out to not be the one you wanted, you can receive a refund fairly easily or a replacement part.

CLARK Material Handling Company official website: www.clarkmhc.com

Clark Forklift Dealers

2010-09-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Because Clark is a global company, they offer their customers the benefits of all of the latest research from around the world. That includes an attention to detail that is mirrored in all of their products, from the smallest hand pallets to the largest forklifts that can hold tons of material and lightly transport it for several miles with ease. To get started with the process of learning more about the Clark family of products, it’s a good idea to examine what the best Clark forklift dealers have to offer at the moment.

This process can involve several parts. Not only can you locate your local Clark forklift dealers online, but you can also see what each dealer has to offer that may be slightly different from their competitors. Some will offer products directly from the manufacturer, with exclusively Clark products, while others will have a wider range of items that could suit just about any type of forklift part or service repair need that you could potentially run across in your manufacturing career.

If you have any questions about the proper operation and maintenance of your Clark forklift, the dealer is always a good outlet to find information first.

These Clark forklift dealers are then usually able to point you in the right direction of finding not only Clark parts for any mechanical issues that you may be having, but also could help give your forklift a tune-up. What you are entitled to and how much it will cost will depend on the service plan that you sign up for when you purchase your first Clark forklift. Some will prefer the used models, while others will want a version that is brand new. Before you make any initial purchase, it’s always a wise idea to first make a list of what you are looking for in a forklift.

For example, if you plan on using one or more forklifts on a daily basis, throughout an eight hour shift or longer each day, it would behoove you to ask your Clark forklift dealers about the possibility of new machines. These will be better suited to last for long hours of work, because they will have brand new engines and tires that are perfectly suited for years of wear and tear. Yet those who have more simplistic or short-term needs could easily rent their forklift or purchase a used model instead. This will all depend on personal business needs.

Clark Forklift Service

2010-09-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

Those that are in the market for either a regular tune-up on their Clark forklifts or who believe that there is something malfunctioning with their equipment will need to find a Clark forklift service center. These are located around the world, fortunately, and offer a full range of proper services for the forklift owner. If you are in need of a certain part, you should be able to find it here, because the centers are fully stocked with all of the major parts that make up the forklift components, all of which are made by Clark.

In the event that a special part is missing or there are more complicated needs, the Clark forklift service technicians have access to a full network of their online catalog, which stocks hundreds of thousands of specialty parts. While not all of these are manufactured directly by the Clark brand, they are made specifically to be compatible with this type of forklift. When you are ordering anything of this specialty nature, it’s a good idea to take into account the other repair services that will also be needed and see if this type of treatment is covered under your service repair plan.

When buying a used Clark forklift, you may not be offered a warranty or service repair plan by the vendor. This is true in the case of those who make their purchases from former owners of the forklifts that are not affiliated with Clark.

However, when you make your purchase from a Clark forklift service center or a dealer that is associated with this brand, you will have a far better chance of being able to match the part with the service agreement that you have signed on-board with.

Service plans can be touch and go for some companies, but because Clark puts such a high emphasis on being there for their customers, they always try to have someone on hand to help with any specialty needs that you may be exhibiting. Those could include anything from needing the repair of one part, to a full system overhaul. Dealers that are associated with the Clark forklift service plan are also on hand to help you resell your equipment. The first step towards meeting all of your repair and service needs is to find the nearest dealer to you. There is a search guide on the Clark website that can help you with any specific requests.

CLARK Material Handling Company Recognizes Top Dealers of 2009

2010-02-20T01:27:00.000-08:00

CLARK recognizes its top performing dealers in both trucks and parts on an annual basis. The “Dealers of Excellence” are the “best of the best” performing CLARK forklifts dealers and represent the top 8% of the dealer group.

The “Dealers of Distinction” are in the top 15% of the dealer group and have achieved great success in servicing CLARK customers in their respective areas of responsibility.

“2009 was another successful year for CLARK and our dealer organization,”

stated Dennis Lawrence, CLARK’s President & CEO.

“We at CLARK are extremely proud of the spirit of partnership and family between CLARK and our dealers and we look forward to continued growth in 2010.”

With over 70 dealers and 175 locations to service our customers, CLARK Material Handling Company is proud to recognize the following dealers:

“2009 Dealer of Excellence”

Infiniti Handling Systems – Middletown, NY
Tri-Lift NC, Inc. - Greensboro, NC
Material Handling, Inc. – Dalton, GA
Burke Handling Systems, Inc – Jackson, MS
Jefferds Corporation – Charleston, WV
W.E. Johnson Equipment Company – Miami, FL

“2009 Dealer of Distinction”

Homestead Materials Handling Company – Roanoke, VA
K-Lift Service Company, Inc. – Salinas, CA
Gray Lift, Inc. – Fresno, CA
G&W Equipment, Inc. – Charlotte, NC

News source: clarkmhc.com