Find a Dealer who Stocks the Forklift Parts you Need Most

Forklifts, regardless of the brand, all feature similar parts. Wear-and-tear issues, carelessness, and the lack of a preventative maintenance program can all contribute to the replacement of these components. Sometimes, forklift manufacturers will provide all the forklift spare parts you need. Every manufacturer will have a list of recommended spare parts for all of their products. These lists offer parts which receive the most wear over time, have historically been abused by the operator, or require occasional maintenance.

Having these additional spare parts in stock will assist in keeping your forklifts functional at all times. The less down-time in any facility, the more efficiently it will run.

Keep your clients and your forklift fleet prepared for the rigors of the industry - include a well-stocked recommended spare parts inventory. Your equipment manufacturer can offer you alist of suggested parts to purchase with each product.

Spare parts are also warrantied – ask your manufacturer about their parts warranty program when buying.

Stärke Dealers have access to a massive inventory of parts for virtually every forklift brand.

• Stärke Canada
• Stärke USA

Canadian Business Magazine & Stärke Material Handling Group

With the announcement that Stärke Material Handling Group had been awarded Profit 500's Fastest Growing Canadian company's in 2015, Canadian Business magazine  gave the accomplishment a nod in their most recent edition entitled: Hack Your Growth.

You know you're working with the right company when a materials handling manufacturer see's this kind of growth and recognition in the Canadian and North American market.

“Stärke is honoured to be on the PROFIT 500 ranking,” says Jim Chesla, VP of Sales and Business Development. “This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our team and dealer networks. It also shows the strength of our product in markets that appreciate peace of mind at a fair price.” 

To learn more about Stärke Material Handling Group visit their website

Stärke Dealers Know What Greenhouses Need to Run Their Operation Efficiently, Ergonomically and Environmentally Responsibly.

Most product coming into or leaving a greenhouse are usually stacked on pallets. Save your business time and money by investing in the proper materials handling equipment to do the work. Forklifts, manual and electric pallet trucks, and electric utility vehicles can assist in making the loading and unloading process less of a chore and reduce employee injuries and product damage over the long and short term. Hand-bombing heavy bags of growing mix, boxed plants, nursery stock, plant carts, construction materials and containers off or onto a trailer is a difficult job, employing an ergonomic alternative is a greenhouse grower’s best choice.

Base your selection of the equipment required on the size of your operation, delivery occurrences, and distance materials have to be moved. Also consider the environment you’re working in. An interior workplace should focus on environmentally sustainable products like manual or battery operated forklifts, pallet trucks and utility vehicles. An electric materials handling fleet will keep your maintenance costs down as well as sustain a higher level of environmental standards in your greenhouse. With zero emissions from your equipment, your employees and product will thrive.

Pallet trucks are the most common solution for loading and unloading trailers and moving product from one end of the greenhouse to another. The decision whether to buy manual or electric is up to you. Electric offers a more ergonomic solution, while manual pallet trucks are the most affordable. Hydraulic pump pallet trucks raise the product a few inches from the ground and require a level of physical strength to push or pull and steer the pallet. An electric pallet truck will offer the same action with much less effort on the part of the operator, allowing anyone to move product through the facility.

If you have a dock which is at truck floor level, pallet trucks make the loading/unloading a simple task. The distance in which you will need to travel with your loaded pallet should also be considered, as an electric option works best if you’re moving materials over 300 feet. Spring-loaded casters should be a major consideration when purchasing an electric pallet truck, offering better control and limiting tipping when taking corners. The control handle is designed to provide steering, speed, lift, horn and brake controls. Consider also a built-in battery charger  when shopping for your electric pallet truck.

Is your dock not at truck floor level? Consider a lift truck in this scenario. Also available in manual or electric models. When a dock is not available, the lift - or straddle truck - will raise its forks to the truck floor level to load or unload pallets. These units are also recommended in applications where you require stacking of nursery stock supplies and bulbs. Adjustable fork spacing and weight requirements are an important feature to consider as well.

Another option is an electric forklift. Forklifts come in a wide variety of sizes and load capacities. They can be relatively inexpensive and do the work of a pallet truck and lift truck. Electric is your best choice for an indoor application, but propane is also a good option. An electric Mini forklift has a tight turning radius and lifting capacities of up to 2,000 lbs. It is compact, yet operates just like any other forklift. Perfect for tight aisles and small spaces. If you’re sending and receiving product on a daily basis, a forklift is your best choice.

For your interior applications; electric utility vehicles are a great option. An electric puller can tow your plant carts and revolutionize your greenhouse’s efficiency in moving materials throughout the facility. A personnel carrier is also an added bonus in that it can move people while towing carts through the greenhouse. It also has the ability to carry cargo like grower mix or containers up to 660 lbs. These options reduce employee fatigue and improve moral. Wherever you can make your employee’s work physically less taxing, the more benefits you will realize.

Once you've reviewed your needs with a sales person and made your equipment choices, a service plan should be put in place to keep your trucks working effectively. Down-time in any facility due to equipment malfunction is a difficult hurdle. Make sure your

provider offers rental equipment and on-site service options with repair parts in-stock.

Forklifts and pallet trucks are not exclusive to large greenhouses, even small growers benefit from having materials handling equipment included into their greenhouse operation. Research your options and discover which service provider near you is the expert in your industry. They will plan a site visit, and discuss your application requirements, offering the most beneficial solution for your business.

To contact a materials handling specialist in your region, call direct at 1-877-435-4352, or visit: US dealersor in Canada: http://www.starkeforklift.com/dealers_Canada.php 

Michael Poeltl, Marketing and Dealer Development Specialist at Stärke Material Handling Group. Michael has been marketing the equipment industry since 2008.

Material Handling Dealer Opportunities with Stärke in North America

Are you a material handling equipment dealer in North America? Are you tired of losing sales to the major brands of #forklifts and #lifttrucks? Become instantly competitive in every application.


There is a new full line of pallet jacks, stacker lifts, reach lifts, order pickers, lift trucks and forklifts available to dealers who are fed-up with the mediocre support, delayed orders, over-priced equipment and poor value their current manufacturers are supplying. The solution: Stärke Material Handling Group.

Stärke means Strength. Strength in value, selection, support, parts, people, product and price. The Stärke line of lift trucks and forklifts offers the perfect solution for any #materialhandling application. From warehousing to manufacturing and construction, Stärke products offer their dealers the opportunity to out-bid and outperform the competition with less warranty requests and less downtime to the client.

Stärke dealer technicians are qualified to maintain the equipment they sell, supporting the B to B relationship with your customers; something they will value.

Stärke has several dealers in their North American network, and looking to grow in 2015 into areas where the Stärke brand can expand into new markets. If you’re a material handling equipment dealer in North America, this is your opportunity to grow your dealership with a respected company who offers a complete line of lift trucks and forklifts for every application.

For more information on dealer opportunities with Stärke, email our Marketing and Dealer Development Specialist, or call 877-435-4352 ext. 230

Is your forklift ready to be be energy efficient and survive the cold this winter?

It's common sense; be prepared and you'll be in a better position to endure winter's rage, incur less downtime and burn less fuel. Generally winter will have you burning more fuel due to cold starts and increased idling to warm up the engine.

Recently I spoke with Stärke Material Handling Group's Technical Advisor, Arnold Poulsen on how to prepare a forklift for the wrath of winter, and keep it working efficiently. Arnold advises the following:

1. Use of block heaters for ease of starting and minimal warm-up time conserves fuel
2. Store forklifts indoors for warm starting conditions…conserving fuel
3. Ensure engines are properly maintained and tuned-up; ready for winter and quick start-ups
4. Use proper oil for your environment. Recommend 15W-40 in moderately cold temperatures to -15 degrees C. For extreme cold over -15 degrees C he recommends a 5W-20 grade. Consult with your forklift technician for an oil that suits your application.
5. If your forklift has a cabin; make sure that your wiper(s) are in good condition, your heater is functioning properly and that the seals on the cabin are keeping cold air out.

With regards to winter tips, keeping your forklift running and safe; a blog post by Jason Fancy of Forklift Central really states things best. You can see this article here.

For more information contact your local Stärke Material Handling Dealer located near you - Starke Forklifts