Pallet jacks with scale are used in many varieties of applications. Whether it is to be used in a small workshop, manufacturing business or warehouse, having this tool is particularly important when there are a lot of materials weighing and transporting involved by hand over short distances.
What makes this pallet jack ideal for many kinds of uses is that you can directly weight heavy materials on the go without the need of separate scale making the work efficient because you can easily verify the exact weight as you are moving it.
If you are a looking for a pallet jack with scale for your business, we can help you find the right one. The best one should boast all the great features of a standard pallet jack but its price should not burn a hole in your pocket although it is generally more expensive.
In this guide, we are going to tell you the important features that you should know before buying. We will also recommend some good brands/models that could fit your application and the different variants you can choose from.
Read on…
Important Features of Pallet Jacks Should Know Before Purchasing
Understanding the product features before buying allows you to assess which model is well-matched to your particular purpose. Here are some of the considerations you need to keep in mind when you’re purchasing for pallet jack with weighing scale:
- Lifting capacity – this is the most important feature that you should know before you delve into buying one for your business. You should determine how much load you usually carry in order to know what’s the lifting capacity you need for a pallet jack. On average, a standard pallet jack can lift and move load up to 6,000 pounds. Other brands and models can handle more than that. Make sure that the jack you are preferring to buy is able to handle the desired load.
- The built-in scale is correctly properly calibrated – This is the second feature you should know when buying a pallet jack with scale. Having an accurate measurement is important otherwise the materials inventory is at risk. To make sure that the weighing scale is calibrated to its precise measuring, ask the manufacturer if they can do that for you. This is just a small favor that you can ask from the supplier. The customer service and technical personnel would be happy to serve their customer.
- UL-approved or NTEP-approved – the built-in scales of pallet jacks in the market today are not trade approved which means the scale is not 100% accurate. To make sure you are buying the right one that somehow has a correct measurement, find the model which is UL or NTEP-approved. You can demand from the supplier or the manufacturer about the certificate before making a decision of buying.
- Unit of measurement the scale displays – the load can be weighed in kilograms or pounds. Some models only show pounds while others can be converted to kilograms. If you were to buy, choose the one that can convert pounds to kilograms and vice versa.
- Manual or powered – as I have discussed below, there are two variants you can choose from. It is all up to you which one you preferer to purchase. Obviously, powered jacks are more expensive than the manually-operated models.
- Standard or low-profile – the lowered height of forks of the pallet jack is one of the important features you need to know before you buy. If the forks can be lowered into low-profile, the forks can go into the pallet. With the different sizes of pallets you have in your business and with the available pallets in the market nowadays, having a low-profile forks pallet jack is ideal to suit in different uses.
- Can print out material weight – one of the advances of scale is its ability to add a printer to print out the result for easy documentation. It is up to your decision if you want to have this feature.
We admit that you cannot find all of these features in a certain model, but at least you have an idea what to look for.
Two Variants You Can Choose From:
Pallet Jacks with weighing scales are available in two variants, it could either:
- Manual pallet Jack also called hand pallet truck: This is the most basic kind of lift to move the load. This variant is operated manually by hand and commonly used in small retail business and medium-size warehousing companies to move freight from one place to another. This is operated with a hydraulic pump and carry up to 6,000 pounds of load. It doesn’t hand an engine or motor. Operating it comes to down to manpower and so it is about the operator. Since it is operated by hand, palletized loads can only be moved over short distances.
- Powered pallet jack also called electric pallet truck: Unlike the first variant, this second one is electric or motorized truck which lifts and drives without any effort allowing the operator to move heavier loads over distances. Powered jack is ideal in warehouse application where the loads being handled are more than 6,000 pounds. Other applications that can suit powered pallet jack are in docking operations and in staging areas.
The operator of pallet jack should need basic safety training on the correct and proper use of this tool as required by OSHA.
Which Model of Pallet Jack with Scale is Best for Your Business: Our Recommendations
We will only recommend some pallet jacks with scale available in the market today that could be ideal with your application, we will not proclaim which is superior because the best model is the one that suits your purpose.
Eoslift E20V Value Scale Pallet Truck
Manufactured by the Eoslift, this E20V model design offers a great value. Its price is below the major competition in the market right now. Click Here to Find The Unit Price On Amazon
Though the price of this jack is cheaper but it still does its job, it outperforms the other models with its innovative design and functionalities. The most attractive feature it has is that instead of the traditional bulky scale components used on the same pallet jacks, the Eoslift E20V utilized a compact-design. Its scale resembles a pocket-style calculator and it runs on 2 CR2477 lithium-ion button batteries that can last for up to 300 hours. The scale has a back-lit LCD display that makes the 15mm-size characters easy to read, it has 3 functions keys and a power on/off button which makes its use and programming simple.
One of the features that makes you excited about this model is that it can be lowered to 3” allowing the forks to easily enter or exit most standard pallets that you cannot do with other models since most pallet trucks with scale are normally higher.
The Eoslift E20V has industrial grade design: it has high-strength steel construction and durable powder-coat finish to make sure it won’t rust. The E20V has a maximum load capacity of 4,400 lbs.
Mighty Lift SPT50 Scale Pallet Jack/Truck
This pallet jack has a Toledo scale that reads in one pound increments with its high contrast display, you can read the number from any angle. This model has a 4,400-lb capacity much less the previous one mentioned above. The technical descriptions about the Might Lift SPT50 are: 27" x 48”; the minimum height of forks is 2.9 inches and can raise up to 7.51 inches in height; The distance between forks is 14.37" and fork width is 6.7 inches.
For better maneuverability, the Mighty Lift SPT50 has a 210-degree turning radius and 14.4” floor gap. It is agile enough to be operated in tight spaces and get into small spaces.
This model may not be the most robust pallet jack in the market but you won’t get disappointed. It has a long steel-reinforced handle and polyurethane on steel wheels. Click Here to Know the Price on Amazon.
What I don’t like about this model is it has difficult-to-understand assembly instruction and the battery of the scale is short-span since battery life depends on a factor of how frequent you’re using it although the scale unit is equipped auto-shut off but it only turns off after a certain period of non-use that’s why the batteries drain much faster.
Giant Move WA-Q25L Scale Pallet Truck
This model has a galvanized steel construction that resists corrosion. If ideal to be used in a humid environment or in docks where water and salty air can come into contact with a unit that could damage the hydraulics.
This model has a 5,500-pound capacity and the forks are 27" x 48". The scale is a generic brand with four sensors that make it more accurate when weighing. Check Here For The Price on Amazon.
It has a foot lowering feature and has a tight turning radius for better maneuverability in confined spaces. If you are business is in food processing, then this model is particularly good for your use. This Giant Move WA-Q25L model is expensive compared to the previous two models.
Fairbanks Scales 32099 Commercial Pallet Jack Scale
This particular heavy-duty model has a 5,000-pound capacity which is suited for use in checking the shipping weight of the incoming and outgoing freight. What I like about this model is that it has a scale that provides fast weight capturing system for high-activity and tight-space workplace.
The scale has rechargeable batteries for uninterrupted use. The display has backlight for better visibility. The materials can be weighed in pounds or in kilograms with toggle functions so that you can shift the measurement from one metric to another. What I like about this model is that it has a thermal printer you can print on the spot when documentation is required. Purchase this model from Amazon, Check The Price Here.
How Much Would It Cost You To Purchase One
A standard pallet truck is much less expensive compared to the ones with scale. For example, a standard pallet truck with 5,000 load capacity would cost around $800 while the jack with a digital scale of the same capacity would cost around twice as much.
The price of pallet jack with built-in weighing scale would depend on various factors such as the load capacity which is the most obvious, the brand or manufacturer, construction and of course the additional features it has.
It is a good investment to have this pallet jack in your business. It makes the transit of loads from place to place easy as it can be done by a single person increasing efficiency and because of the built-in scale you can easily weigh the materials on the spot.
Safe Use of Pallet Jack
Before operating a pallet jack, it is crucial to know the number of safety issue concerning the use of this tool to prevent accident, physical injury and materials damage. Here’s a video from Agilent Technologies explaining the safe and correct use of pallet jack.
Operating a pallet jack seems simple and easy to do but make no mistake, improper use of this machine could cause an accident. The video above explains the safe use. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation as well and always be mindful in the use of pallet jack to prevent an accident from happening.
A Safety Reminder
Operating a pallet jack is one of the many duties in many work environments. The use of this tool is popular because they can get into places where normal forklifts can’t go and when the job requires frequent stop they’re more convenient to use than a forklift because they are designed to allow its operator to start and stop.
But before you can use a pallet jack you need to be trained on operating it. OSHA requires the operator of this truck to be licensed first before commencing work. OSHA classified this tool as powered industrial truck which basically means they’re the same as a forklift.
Taking the training on pallet jack operation requires attending classroom lectures and practical exercise in the use of this machine. If you’re an employer whose workers who have not undergone such training yet, it is time to have them the training.
You can arrange a training schedule. You can either send the workers to the school or facilitate a training on-site. The latter option is the most preferred one because the trainer can modify the course to suit the current work situation and with the behavior of the workers.
To Make a Conclusion
In business operation, we used different kinds of equipment and tools to get the job done. Getting a load moving could mean hard work. It takes planning and focus to load heavy from destination to destination.
Pallet jacks with scale is a great help and are meant to make work efficient. It can be operated by a single person without the need of another to lift materials from point A to point B.
Having this tool is essential to get the work done fast and efficient.
