7 Years of Change - One Warranty: Stärke Manual Pallet Jack

What does a warranty say about a manufacturer’s faith in its products?  At Stärke, we believe a well-backed warranty provides a strong indication about the quality of our equipment and the strength of our commitment to customers and dealers alike.  Without this commitment, we wouldn’t offer an industry-leading, 7 year warranty on our manual pallet jacks.  This is something we do without concern for lost revenues or profits. 

Just to illustrate this point, I would like you to think back and consider all that’s occurred over the past 7 years, beginning with the year 2009.  What was going on in the world?  What were we watching in movie theaters?  What was happening on television?  What music were we listening to?

If you’re having difficulty remembering, let’s consider a few points:

• With the 2016 election cycle in full swing, it’s worth noting that it wasn’t until February of 2009 that Barrack Obama finished his first 100 days in the White House after taking office in November of the previous year as the U.S. made history by electing the first African-American president in U.S. history.
•  In 2009, a housing crisis in the U.S. combined with financial instability brought about the greatest economic recession since the Great Depression.
• H1N1 or the “swine flu” was seen as the next great pandemic causing a panic and fear across North America.
• Theatre audiences flocked to see the latest film in the Harry Potter series with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while the adults watched a worthy Best Film of the Year winner in The Hurt Locker.
• In living across the North America, captive television audiences watched the first full season of Breaking Bad and the beginning of the end for Walter White, looked on as the Draper family began to disintegrate on Mad Men, and scratched their heads in confusion as the mysteries of Lost were finally revealed.
• In the world of sports, two of the most iconic franchises in North American sports – the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Lakers – won yet another championship to the delight and dismay of many. In the NHL, Sydney Crosby finally fulfilled his potential and won his first Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins while boxing fans saw Floyd Mayweather, Jr. return from retirement for a second time to face Juan Manuel Marquez.
• Both Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber were beloved symbols of youthful innocence.
• Teenagers and celebrities had yet to become hooked on the social media phenomenon that has become Snap Chat.  

As you can see, a lot can happen and change over a 7 year period.  So, if you're in need of a manual pallet jack, choose a Stärke, where you'll find that some things never change.  The holds true for all of our equipment, where our warranties stand above the competition.  

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www.starkeforklift.com

Local: (905)-227-7554  |  Toll free: 1-877-435-4352

A Pallet Truck by Any Other Name

In our ever-changing society, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that the tools and equipment of the material handling industry have acquired a variety of names and labels, often changing from one country to the next. Without this tendency, the world would be bereft the awkward cross-cultural mix ups that we all secretly enjoy (for example, think of the surprise and confusion that would result if an American mechanic asks for a spanner and a muffler in the U.K. and a nerdy-looking chap holding a scarf shows instead?).

To illustrate this point, let’s consider the simple pallet truck. Throughout the English-speaking world, it’s not uncommon to find such a basic piece of material handling equipment referred to by any number of unique names. These range from simple variations of ‘pallet truck’ such as pallet jack / lift / elevator / and pump, to widely adopted pseudonyms like jigger and lifter, as well as an almost infinite number of combinations (including pump truck or jack, hand or wheeled floor jack, fork pump, and manual forklift). While this is not an exhaustive list, by any means, it does illustrate how our cultural preferences and industry-based needs tend to help us interact with and define the world around us.

But in the end, the truth is that the equipment doesn’t care what you call it. Whether you refer to it as a jigger, pallet truck, hand jack, or even “that red metal thingy with the forks,” the basic purpose of the pallet truck remains the same: to lift and transport pallets and freight from one place to another. What you should not do, however, is think that all pallet trucks / jacks are created equal.

Over the years, pallet trucks have been modified and adapted for use in a wide variety of applications and operating conditions. In terms of size and load capacity, pallet trucks typically have a maximum rating between 1000 and 5500 lbs, with forks that are 7” or 9” in width, either 36”, 42” or 48” in length, and are placed 21” or 27” apart. The reasoning behind these different capacities, fork sizes and width are to accommodate variations in pallet sizes and a range of load weights.

To limit the hazards associated with different surfaces, a number of different wheel types have been introduced. For uneven surfaces, dual – also known as tandem – front wheel models were introduced to assist in going over dock plates and rougher floors. On the other hand, a four-way pallet truck offers a greater degree of maneuverability and enables the operator to pick up a pallet from any direction. And, since pallet trucks are utilized in warehouses and docking bays, as well for applications within the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food / beverage industries, pallet jacks can also be found with specialized coatings and finishes. With galvanized and stainless steel finishes, a pallet truck can be routinely cleaned and disinfected or operated in chemically hazardous or corrosive environment.

More recently, manual pallet trucks have even been outfitted with electronic scales and LCD displays, thereby combining all the functionality of a pallet truck with the precise measurement of a calibrate freight scale.

Brochures and information on the entire Stärke line of manual and electric pallet trucks can all be found here. Or, for more information, advice, or a quote, please contact your nearest Stärke Material Handling Dealer with locations throughout Canada or the USA.

www.starkeforklift.com

Local: (905)-227-7554  |  Toll free: 1-877-435-4352

Save Space and Money with a Manual Scale Pallet Truck

Weigh and move your pallets with ease.

The 4400 lb Manual Pallet Truck with Scale combines the maneuverability of our Pallet Boss jacks with the precise functions of a digital freight scale. This pallet truck will increase efficiency in your facility by allowing you to weigh pallets and containers without needing to transfer them to a stationary freight scale, while the LCD screen offers a simple user experience and large display.

Perfect for small warehouses without the room or the budget to include a stationary freight scale, lift gate operations, shipping and receiving tasks, and trailer loading and unloading.

Options include double front wheels to improve stability when rolling over uneven ground and deck plates. Nylon wheels are also an option to assist in eliminating slipping on wet surfaces.

For more on this versatile pallet truck visit the Stärke website.