Why do companies choose LPG forklifts to replace diesel forklifts?

Why do companies choose LPG forklifts to replace diesel forklifts?

In the field of warehousing logistics and industrial handling, the choice of forklift power type is directly related to the company’s operational efficiency and cost. In recent years, more and more companies have begun to replace diesel forklifts with LPG forklifts, among which the FLIFT brand stands out with its excellent product performance and customized solutions. What exactly prompted the company to make this change? Let’s find out.

First of all, we need to know how LPG forklifts work? How is LPG fuel stored and supplied in forklifts?

The storage and supply of LPG fuel in forklifts is a strict and efficient system. In the storage link, high-strength and corrosion-resistant steel cylinders are used as exclusive “containers” for LPG. Their good sealing and pressure resistance can ensure that LPG is safely stored in liquid form under a certain pressure. The valves and pressure gauges on the cylinders are used to accurately control the gas in and out and monitor the pressure in the cylinder. At the same time, the cylinder fixing devices equipped with the forklift, such as clamps and straps, firmly fix the cylinders at the rear or side to prevent movement during operation. When supplied, liquid LPG must first be “transformed” by a vaporizer. The vaporizer uses water or electric heating and decompression to quickly convert liquid into gas. Subsequently, the pressure regulating valve automatically adjusts the pressure of gaseous LPG according to the engine load to ensure stable fuel supply. The filter plays a gatekeeping role in this process, filtering out impurities and moisture to prevent engine damage. Finally, the corrosion-resistant metal or rubber fuel pipeline sends the gaseous LPG that has been gasified, pressure-regulated, and filtered to the engine intake system, where it is fully mixed with air and then enters the combustion chamber for combustion, providing continuous power for the forklift.

Economic cost is the key factor. LPG forklifts have lower procurement costs, and their engine structure is simple, without the need for complex exhaust gas treatment equipment. During operation, the price of LPG fuel is lower than that of diesel, which can save fuel costs under the same workload, and the engine has a long maintenance cycle, fewer parts replacement, and greatly reduced maintenance costs.

Environmental performance: LPG forklifts have significant advantages over diesel forklifts in terms of environmental protection. They use liquefied petroleum gas as fuel, burn fully, and significantly reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide emissions can be reduced by up to about 60% compared with diesel forklifts. They are suitable for high-cleanliness industries such as food and medicine to avoid polluting products. At the same time, with the background of stricter environmental regulations, with clean emission performance, they can help companies easily meet environmental standards, avoid violation risks, and achieve green and sustainable development.

In terms of power performance and applicability, LPG forklifts perform well. It has faster power response and smoother output in fine operations, and can flexibly shuttle between warehouses and workshops. In contrast, diesel forklifts have large exhaust pollution during indoor operations, while LPG forklifts can freely switch between indoor and outdoor scenes, greatly improving the convenience of operations.

Is LPG forklift suitable for use in refrigerated warehouses?

LPG forklifts are suitable for use in refrigerated warehouses under certain conditions. Its low-temperature performance is good: LPG forklifts can usually work in low-temperature environments of minus 20 degrees Celsius. The low-temperature starting performance of its engine is relatively good. LPG fuel can still maintain good fluidity and combustion performance at low temperatures, allowing the forklift to start and operate smoothly in the low-temperature environment of the refrigerated warehouse.

Clean exhaust emissions: Refrigerated warehouses usually have certain requirements for air quality. LPG forklifts produce less exhaust emissions when burning LPG fuel. Compared with gasoline or diesel forklifts, the emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are greatly reduced, which can effectively reduce the pollution of the air in the refrigerated warehouse and meet the warehouse’s requirements for environmental cleanliness.

Sufficient power performance: Refrigerated warehouses may need to carry heavier goods. LPG forklifts have good power performance and can provide sufficient traction and lifting force to meet the needs of carrying goods in refrigerated warehouses, and can maintain stable power output during long-term operations.

Low noise level: The LPG forklift engine has a small vibration amplitude and low noise during operation. This helps to create a relatively quiet working environment in refrigerated warehouses, reduce noise interference to staff, and is also conducive to protecting noise-sensitive goods that may be stored in the warehouse.

However, there are some things to note when using LPG forklifts in cold storage warehouses. For example, the storage and use of LPG must strictly comply with safety regulations. Filling or changing bottles must be done in a well-ventilated and safe place outdoors, away from fireworks and heat sources4. At the same time, if there is no self-installed gas filling equipment in the field, it may not be convenient to go to an external gas filling station to fill gas.

In what other scenarios is LPG forklift suitable for use?

Indoor warehouse: LPG forklift exhaust emissions are relatively clean, which can meet the requirements of indoor environment for air quality and reduce the impact on the health of goods and personnel in the warehouse. At the same time, its power performance is good, and it can be flexibly operated in narrow passages to complete operations such as handling and stacking of goods.

Food processing workshop: LPG forklifts produce fewer pollutants after combustion, which meets the strict requirements of the food processing industry for hygiene and environmental protection, and can avoid pollution of food. And its noise is relatively small, which helps to create a quieter working environment.

Supermarket distribution center: Such places usually require forklifts to frequently switch between indoor and outdoor areas. LPG forklifts can maintain good environmental performance indoors, and can also show good power and endurance outdoors, quickly complete the loading and unloading and handling of goods, and meet the efficient needs of supermarket distribution.

Small manufacturing plants: For some manufacturing plants with smaller production scales, the flexibility and moderate load capacity of LPG forklifts can meet their operational needs such as raw material handling, semi-finished product transfer, and finished product warehousing. At the same time, the cost of LPG fuel is relatively low, which can effectively control operating costs.

Logistics transfer station: The cargo throughput of logistics transfer stations is large, and forklifts need to have strong power and fast operating speed. LPG forklifts are powerful and can load and unload goods quickly, improving logistics turnover efficiency. Moreover, they can operate continuously outdoors for a long time, adapting to the high-intensity work requirements of logistics transfer stations.

What are the unique advantages of FLIFT brand LPG forklifts? We analyze through a customized case.

With increasingly stringent environmental regulations, companies are more and more in need of clean power equipment. FLIFT LPG forklift adopts dual-fuel design, with LPG as the main fuel. When burning, carbon monoxide emissions are 60% lower than those of diesel forklifts, and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 50%. There is almost no particulate pollution, which perfectly meets the needs of industries such as food and medicine that have extremely high requirements for environmental cleanliness. Its EPA-certified engine has emissions that fully meet international environmental standards. Enterprises do not need to worry about facing fines or production suspension risks due to excessive emissions, providing reliable guarantees for green production. ​

FLIFT LPG forklift is not inferior in power performance. The PSI2.4 engine is powerful and can maintain stable power output even in operating scenarios with a load of 3,500 kg and a lifting height of 6,000 mm. The response speed is 20% faster than that of diesel forklifts, and the acceleration is smooth and smooth. The 3-stage fully free gantry design enables the forklift to operate flexibly in narrow spaces and easily complete high-level storage and retrieval tasks. At the same time, the dual-fuel type configuration allows the forklift to switch freely between LPG and gasoline, whether it is indoor warehouse handling or outdoor construction site operations, it can be done with ease, and the operating efficiency is improved by more than 30%.

FLIFT is well aware of the particularities of different corporate operating scenarios and provides LPG forklifts with a variety of customized configuration options such as side shifters and adjustable forks. The side shifter can achieve left and right translation of goods, precise alignment, and reduce manual adjustment time; the adjustable fork can automatically adjust the fork distance according to the size of the goods to improve handling efficiency and safety. This highly flexible customized service enables FLIFT LPG forklifts to accurately match the needs of various industries, whether it is high-frequency handling in e-commerce warehousing or heavy-duty cargo loading and unloading in the manufacturing industry, it can provide the best solution.