Guest post by Jayde Ferguson
If you are in the construction or mining industry, you know the importance of having lifting equipment on the work site. If you have ever tried to buy lifting equipment, you know that it can be overwhelming and confusing.
This is true even if you have experience in the lifting equipment industry. Fortunately, there have been many others who have gone before you and purchased everything from winches and hoists to cranes and lifting vehicles. Since others have gone through the process of buying lifting equipment, you will have an easier time as you can learn from their experience. Based on this experience, here are some of the top six things to look out for when buying lifting equipment:
1 – The Cost of Lifting Equipment
Since there are so many different types of lifting and mobile mining equipment used by the construction and mining industries, you will also find a wide range of costs. The first thing that you should do before buying equipment like this is to look at your budget, then look at how that compares to the cost of the equipment. For instance, a winch for the mining industry might cost $9,000. If that is within your budget, you may be ready to buy, right? Not so fast. This is only part of the cost. You also need to take into account any maintenance costs that might be associated with the winch as well as the power source of the winch. Petrol for the winch, for instance, can cost a lot over time. When it comes to the cost of your lifting equipment, it is best to make sure you are looking at the big picture. This article provides some insight into the long term costs and how you can reduce them.
2 – The Quality of Your Lifting Equipment
Another thing that you need to keep in mind when buying lifting equipment is the quality of the equipment. Just like any other type of equipment out there, some manufacturers have a better reputation when it comes to quality than others. You will find that it is not necessary to buy top of the line equipment to get a high quality product, but you will need to do some research. One of the things you can do, for instance, is to talk to people you trust about the brand you are considering. If they have used this equipment before, they can give you an unbiased opinion on what you can expect. You also want to make sure that the brand and equipment is highly reviewed by those who have used it in the past.
3 – The Safety of the Equipment
You also want to be sure that you are buying lifting equipment that will be safe to use in your industry. When you buy lifting equipment, like hoists, they will have a certain lifting capacity. For instance, you may find a great hoist that has a lifting capacity of 4 tonnes, but you may, even rarely, lift loads that are heavier than that. With almost 50 people getting crushed from 2012 – 2013 in Australia due to working with heavy machinery, you don’t even want to take the chance. Buy the equipment that is able to lift more than you need for best results and to keep everyone safe.
4 – The Power That Will Be Used
It is also important to consider the power that will be used for your lifting equipment. Most of the time you will find power sources like electricity, petrol, hydraulics and pneumatics. All these have their pros and cons, so it is important to take a look at your options before buying machinery with one power source over another. Remember, some types of power will be more expensive to use than others, so keep that in mind, too.
5 – The Company You Buy From
Another important factor to consider when you buy lifting equipment is where you will buy the equipment from. Not all retailers are the same when it comes to buying lifting equipment and there is something to be said for great customer service and a reputable, trustworthy business. What should you look for in a company you buy lifting equipment from? You should look for longevity in the business and make sure they offer a wide range of equipment. Financing options should also be considered and find out if they offer maintenance on the equipment they sell. This could save headaches in the future.
6 – The Training You Might Need to Use the Equipment
You might be excited about buying this new lifting equipment, but in most countries, if you are not trained and licensed, you may not legally be able to use it. For instance, if you operate a crane or hoist, you will need to get a high risk work license. This involves taking a course and passing an assessment. Once you do, you will be able to operate your lifting equipment for five years. At that point, you will need to get the license renewed.
These are only a few of the things that you should look for before you buy lifting equipment and safety should always be the number one priority. It is also important that you choose something that is considered high quality and machinery that will be a good investment. It can take days or weeks to go through the buying process, so take your time and have confidence that you will find the right lifting equipment for your needs.
Author Bio
This article is written by Jayde Ferguson, who writes for Direct Mining – a leading supplier of premier mobile and stationary equipment including lifting supplies, products and services throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region. You can catch her on Google+.
