As longer lead times for forklifts linger, companies are no longer able to mask motive power issues with short leases and equipment exchanges.
And as labor shortages continue, understaffed and overwhelmed facilities are skipping protocols for regular battery maintenance, such as watering—the most important step in maintaining the life and peak performance of a lead-acid battery.
Manufacturing and distribution facilities are beginning to realize that motive power can no longer be an afterthought in the dynamic world of material handling. And equipment suppliers are recognizing that power management is essential to a positive customer experience.
In most cases, batteries that power lift trucks, reach trucks and order pickers represent about 20 percent of the per-unit cost of a truck. However, little attention is paid to the maintenance of batteries, chargers and best practices for managing power.
As companies continue to struggle with hiring and employee retention, simple tasks such as watering of lead-acid batteries are often neglected, leading to cost overruns, the voiding of battery warranties and downtime.
Battery system maintenance is equally as important as scheduled maintenance of brakes, tires and hoses. A proactive plan for managing motive power is a critical component in maximizing the lifetime of assets.
A new whitepaper by Carolina Handling explores power management programs as an intentional approach to eliminating variance that leads to better cost control, predictability and safety of operations.
Predicting costs
Power management programs create a predictable experience at a predictable cost. Much like comprehensive fleet maintenance, where costs are consistent over the course of a contract, power management programs can be used as a budgeting and planning tool.
A power management system ensures that an electric lift truck fleet operates at full capacity, providing proactive and reactive maintenance services, along with innovative application management technology to help maximize equipment availability and minimize downtown.
Boosting uptime
Research shows that preventive methods are better at boosting uptime and keeping production running, but many facilities rely on reactive maintenance that is performed after equipment has broken.
According to a study conducted by Forbes, unplanned downtime costs industrial manufacturers as much as $50 billion a year, with 82 percent of companies reporting at least one unplanned downtime incident over the past three years.
Improving safety
A power management program reduces risks associated with the installation, handling and maintenance of batteries and chargers.
With a proactive plan, motive power experts will ensure that chargers are installed correctly and programmed properly to eliminate any miscommunication between the charger and battery that can lead to overheating and a decreased lifecycle.
POWER UP for battery integrity and reliability
At Carolina Handling, enhancing the customer experience includes POWER UP Battery Management Programs, an innovative, intelligent approach to power system management that is designed to ensure battery integrity and reliability while reducing the total cost of ownership.
As a service partner for hundreds of companies in dozens of different industries, we understand that no two businesses operate the same way. Determining the right power maintenance program for your operation and budget begins with our team conducting a complete power assessment.
Using this data, we will make recommendations based on several key factors, including: the age and condition of your current equipment; the number of shifts run per day; the need for additional features such as remote monitoring and data collection.
Learn more about our POWER UP Battery Management Programs.
View our video on Battery Care & Maintenance.
Download our whitepaper, Eliminating Variance with Power Management Programs.
