Tuesday, December 8, 2015

How Long Will Your Forklift Tires Last?

To date, no exact science or formula exists for determining how long a set of forklift tires will last. Rather, maintenance staff, mechanics and technicians must examine a number of factors to determine when it’s time to find a replacement set of tires. Several factors must be taken into consideration here, including the total number of operating hours and intensity of use, driving habits or operator style, application type (i.e., long runs without a load, excessive speed or rotation with a load), operating conditions, the tire type and compound, as well as the vehicle’s average load weight.



Note: these figures should be used as estimations only. Determining the exact amount of acceptable wear for a given tire depends upon the size of the tires and the conditions in which it is operated. To avoid accidents, injury or damage, regular tire inspections should be included as part of a vehicle`s monthly maintenance schedule.

Consider replacing pneumatic forklift tires after the outside diameter has worn approximately 2” to 3". With press on cushion tires, replacements should be considered after the outside diameter is worn by 1 1/2" or when 30-40% of the tire’s rubber is gone. Beyond tread wear, there are other signs to look for as an indication of overall tire wear including undercutting, chunking and chipping.
  • Undercutting occurs as a result of overloading and sharp, aggressive steering. This causes the rubber to begin receding from the metal band at the center of the tire.
  • Chunking, as the name suggests, is when large pieces or chunks of rubber detach from the surface of the tire. Common causes include collisions with objects, repetitive contact with debris or refuse, and driving over coarse/jagged terrain.
  • Chipping refers to damage to the surface of the tire such as incisions, slashes, nicks, punctures, and divots. Like chunking, this is often caused when cushion tires are regularly operated on coarse or irregular surfaces. 

While your forklift tires can still be “operational” with significant wear, there are a number of benefits to replacing worn out or deteriorating forklift or lift truck tires. Beyond the immediate safety concerns, there are also financial, operational and productivity risks to take into consideration.  By avoiding the costs associated with replacing worn out forklift tires, owners can incur far greater maintenance fees down the road as the additional vibration, strain and shock placed on essential components can result in equipment failures, downtime and costly repairs. 

Worn tires also have an impact on your operation’s productivity and efficiency as the increased vibration, instability and stress can result in above average operator strain, thereby reducing the operator’s ability to control the vehicle. This, in turn, limits the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, speed, turning capacity, and stopping power.

For more information on forklift tires, pricing or availability, please contact your nearest Stärke Material Handling Dealer. Locations throughout Canada or the USA.


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


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Stärke's New XVI Forklift

Here at Stärke Material Handling Group, we’ve built our reputation on our comprehensive product line, continuous innovation, and our dedicated parts and dealer support networks. As part of this commitment, we begun developing a series of informative videos highlighting our new products and design innovations. Among the first videos to be released is an informative video promoting Stärke’s new range of Professional Series forklifts – the XVI 40-50! 

Engineered to lift between 8,800 lbs. and 11,000 lbs., this range of XVI forklifts includes multiple upgrades when compared to similar, competing brand classes. “The XVI series of forklifts was designed to meet a growing need across multiple industries,” explains Jim Chesla, VP of Sales and Business Development at Stärke Material Handling Group. “We create equipment to meet and exceed the requirements of our customers, all backed with industry leading warranties.”

Stärke's new XVI 40-50 includes several cutting-edge design elements. These include a superior turning radius, a floating transmission that reduces vibration, an open view mast and tilt cylinder allowing for better visibility, and wet disc brakes, just to name a few. The ergonomics included in this design will offer additional comfort for the operator, ultimately improving moral while contributing to a more efficient workplace.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that Stärke Material Handling Group has also incorporated innovative design features across its entire line of forklifts, lift trucks and utility vehicles. And, with these innovations establishing a firm foundation for our brand, Stärke has developed a comprehensive product line that is second to none.

Features such as these will be featured in monthly video releases as Stärke works to provide a constant stream of educational – yet entertaining – content for dealers and end-users alike. Each video will feature our industry experts examining a new product or innovation to demonstrate how Stärke designs are capable of improving the efficiency and productivity of your warehouse, factory or greenhouse!

“Providing outstanding support to our dealers and customers has always been a part of who we are at Stärke. In today’s networked society, this means creating relevant content that provides entertainment and advice when and where people want to find it. That’s what these videos are all about for us,” comments Justin Engel, Stärke’s Marketing Specialist.

Visit Starke's Youtube page to learn about our new XVI series of forklifts, watch other videos on Stärke innovations and subscribe to the Stärke YouTube channel to see our entire lineup of videos and much more! Alternatively, follow this link to view or download the product brochure.

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