Buying a new Hangcha forklift: prepare the selection brief before asking for a price

Define a work cycle, rather than recording only the hours per day

Describe a truck journey from approaching a pallet to returning the forks to the collection point. Does the route pass through warehouse doors, gradients, pedestrian areas or places where the truck must wait? Does it only load trucks, or does it regularly place goods on high rack levels? Two factories that both operate for eight hours can place very different demands on their equipment because waiting time and lifting and travel time differ.

Over a representative week, record pallet numbers by time slot, the heaviest load, the number of lifts to high levels and the periods when the truck can rest. If the factory is not yet operating, use the planned production pattern but clearly identify it as an assumption. Ask the supplier to explain the proposed configuration using this data; do not treat “enough for one shift” as a measurable acceptance specification.

Confirm the most demanding load before deciding on capacity

Typical loads help determine productivity, while the most demanding load often defines the configuration limits. The brief should include weight including the pallet, three-dimensional measurements, the estimated centre of gravity, the fork approach and the placing height. For off-centre loads, long loads or attachments, request an assessment of the actual configuration. The capacity in the truck name does not replace the load chart for the truck and mast combination.

For a hypothetical example, most goods weigh 1.4 tonnes, but at the end of the week there is a 2.7-tonne machine package that is longer than a standard pallet. Simply observing that 2.7 is less than 3 is not enough to conclude that a 3-tonne truck will do the job. Check the load centre, capacity at the required height and the way the load will be held. If this exception occurs only occasionally, the business should also compare the cost of selecting a larger truck for the whole year with a separate arrangement for that particular task.

Comparison checklist for the purchasing team

Measure routes and warehouse doors under actual working conditions

Measure the clear aisle width with racking, overhanging goods and protective columns in their operating positions. Door heights must allow for pipes, bracing and suspended equipment; compare the truck’s lowered mast height with the lowest doorway on the route. A warehouse with changes in floor level or loading ramps needs an assessment using the working load, rather than just a photograph of the floor.

The Ast aisle-width figure in a product specification is tied to defined measurement conditions and a specified pallet. It is an input for comparison, not a promise that a truck can turn in every warehouse with that width. During the site assessment, mark the collection point, turning point, pallet placement point and approach direction. This allows the warehouse team to challenge the proposed solution before the contract is signed, rather than discovering obstructions after delivery.

Choose the energy source together with its supporting infrastructure

For an electric truck, the purchasing brief must cover the battery, charger, charging location, power supply and available charging periods. For a diesel truck, identify the outdoor routes, fuel supply and an appropriate maintenance plan. Avoid the approach of buying the truck first and working out charging later: a configuration that looks sensible on paper can create queues if peak workloads coincide with energy replenishment.

If you are considering lithium and lead-acid batteries, ask for two options that both meet the same work schedule. Compare energy use, downtime, supporting equipment and battery-care tasks according to the instructions for each battery. Do not assume that every lithium truck has the same charging capability or the same outdoor operating scope. The configuration of the specific truck range and its handover documentation are the basis for selection.

Turn requirements into criteria that can be tested and signed off

Replace statements such as “powerful and reliable” with clear items: lift a specified load at a specified position; pass through the measured doorway; operate along the assessed warehouse route; use a charger matched to the battery; and provide the documents for the delivered configuration. Assign each criterion to a person from the warehouse, engineering or purchasing team for confirmation. Testing must take place only under conditions approved by the technical team, within load limits and with an appropriate operator.

Separate mandatory requirements from preferences. A camera, cabin, tyre type or side shift can be useful, but explain which situation it addresses. A table of “problem – criterion – check – responsible person” is often more useful than a long options list. If the configuration changes after negotiation, update the checking method as well; do not use the old option’s criteria to accept a new configuration.

What to send ACE C&T for a proposal based on the actual work

A concise brief includes photographs of the pallet and weight label, racking, the lowest doorway, aisle measurements, shift patterns and the factory location. Also send photographs or the model of the truck currently in use and describe what is inconvenient: charging during a shift, difficult turning, poor visibility or inability to reach the highest rack level. This is practical information for discussion, not a requirement for customers to know every technical detail.

If a specification is unclear, mark it “site assessment needed” rather than making an estimate and treating it as certain. When a quotation arrives, check whether every unresolved item has been addressed or remains an assumption. ACE C&T supplies proposals for new Hangcha forklifts by configuration; purchase prices, delivery timing and support scope are confirmed in the quotation or contract. The truck depot is in Tu Son, Bac Ninh, with nationwide supply.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enquire about buying a forklift before all specifications are known?

Yes. Send photographs of the goods, racking and doors together with the shift schedule. Mark the items needing a site assessment instead of treating your own estimates as confirmed figures.

Does ACE C&T publish one purchase price for every forklift?

Purchase prices are confirmed in the quotation for the model, configuration and supply scope. Do not use the starting rental rate to infer a purchase price.