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Forklifts are imperative to any growing business as they're used to lift and transport cargo and loads. While most material handling equipment is considered safe, there will always be risks when operating any vehicle. Some of the most common causes of forklift injuries happen when: • A forklift overturns because a load is off-balance. • A worker's foot gets stuck inside a forklift. • Workers fall while operating a forklift. • Forklifts fall between docks and unsecured trailers or are driven off-loading docks entirely. • Other forklifts strike workers. Workers should be aware of these common causes of injuries and be highly trained in operating forklifts. If an accident does happen, the worker should report it to their supervisor immediately with the following information included: • An explanation of the work being performed during the time of injury. • A play-by-play of how the accident happened. • The presence of any witnesses. • A medical diagnosis from a professional. • The precise cause of the injury. Remember, forklifts are not dangerous! However, keep these in mind. Training workers is the key when operating forklifts to avoid accidents. Prevention is always better than a cure. Scantruck is the sole distributor of the Komatsu forklift in Singapore and West Malaysia—a 100% Japan-made, reliable brand. We've been helping thousands of commercial vehicles for 36 years and partner with the best global brands for spare parts and material-handling equipment to give you the best value for your money. Want a FREE quote on our Komatsu forklift? Simply call us for one at 6305 6600 today!

Is preventive forklift maintenance worth it? Here are 5 reasons to convince you! When it comes to keeping trucks and forklifts in good shape, it’s best to think of it like you’re maintaining your own body. Yes, they’re machines, but just like how it is with people, good health reaps more benefits in the long run. Keep reading for 5 reasons why you should invest in preventive forklift maintenance: 1. First, the less your machine breaks, the longer it will last. If there is little to no wear and tear, a healthy vehicle’s lifespan can last much longer than one that frequently breaks. (Ideally, a well-maintained forklift can last up to 10 years and more!) 2. Remember, prevention is always better than a cure. Sometimes, repairing a broken vehicle can shoot costs up, especially when purchasing replacements for expensive parts. This means maintaining your vehicle from the beginning ends up being more cost-effective. 3. Preventive maintenance is a factor you can always keep under your control. You schedule these appointments. Thus, you can streamline it into your company’s workflow. Unexpected breakdowns, however, are not under your control. If your vehicle is not functional and you cannot account for it, you will suffer from backlog and delays, leading to profit losses. 4. Vehicles don’t drive themselves–maintaining them makes it easier for those who do. A well-maintained machine that is smooth to operate makes it much easier for drivers and will make them more productive workers. 5. Lastly, you never know for how long you’ll keep these machines. An instance may arise where you’ll need to rent it or even sell it to somebody else. Healthy vehicles naturally have better resale value, giving you more returns. Looking for a comprehensive evaluation of your forklift? Scantruck is your one-stop solution for your commercial vehicle needs. We’ve been delivering commercial vehicles and material-handling equipment needs for Singaporean businesses for over 35 years! Plus, we partner with the best global brands to give our partners the best value for their money. So if you are looking for a reliable commercial vehicle provider, call us at 6305 6600. We’ll even throw in a FREE quote for your workshop needs!

Considering that buying a forklift in Singapore can cost around SGD 20,000 to SGD 300,000, these four things may help you decide what forklift fits your budget. Buying and owning a forklift can be an expensive proposition. Knowing what factors affect a machine's price can help you narrow your choices and pick a forklift that best suits your needs. 1. Capacity A machine that can lift heavier loads will cost more than a forklift that lifts comparatively lighter weights. This is because larger machines require heavier parts to do their tasks safely. So before buying a forklift, consider the load requirements of your project before opting for a heavier, more-expensive machine. 2. Quality Not all forklifts are built the same. Machines from well-established manufacturers will cost more initially but may make up for it in reliability. A forklift made with better parts will not break down as often as a lower-quality machine and will require less maintenance and repairs. Our recommendation: Komatsu forklifts 3. Maintenance and operating costs On a related note, forklift expenses continue beyond their purchase. Once you acquire a machine, you must factor in maintenance, repair, and part replacement costs. As said previously, buying a high-quality machine may help minimize these costs in the long run, but the initial cost may be comparatively higher. If you want to know more about forklift maintenance, check out this article. 4. The Warranty When buying a forklift, the seller may include a warranty with your purchase. While this adds to the initial price, a warranty may save you money on troublesome repairs or parts replacement. Always consider the coverage of your warranty before paying for a machine. Where to buy forklifts in Singapore? Explore our selection. Scantruck has a variety of options for your business. Browse them here. We've partnered with the best global brands, like Komatsu, to provide the best value for all your material-handling equipment needs. For the Komatsu catalogue, please click here.

Maximize your costs, increase speed, and be more efficient when you streamline your operations with the right MHEs. Knowing what equipment you need during your day-to-day operations is key to growing a successful business. In this article, we’ll discuss three things you should know and consider before buying MHEs ( Material Handling Equipment), which include forklifts, pallet jacks, and other machines. 1. Evaluate your needs first Before purchasing an MHE: • Be aware of the needs of your operations first. Remember that the initial cost of an MHE is only 20% of its total cost; the rest goes into maintaining your newly-purchased equipment. • Factor in the needs of your operation, and consider how many MHEs you’ll need – or if you’re unsure, you may opt for short-term rentals to reduce the chances of incurring additional costs. Check out our rental catalogue: Equipment Rental 2. Choose the correct MHE Knowing the needs of your operation is key to choosing the right MHE. Before you buy, consider the following: • Your operating environment • Your operators (If experienced or inexperienced) • If the equipment’s specifications are built to handle the load of your operations Purchasing machines not built to handle the requirements of your project may lead to equipment breakdown or workplace accidents, not to mention injuries if the person operating your machine is inexperienced. 3. Invest in new tech and equipment New technologies are constantly being rolled out so it's also a good idea to check new MHE innovations. For example, electric pallet jacks, riders, and tuggers, may be more efficient for your operation than sit-down trucks. However, older technologies have proven their reliability, so always do your research before investing in a cutting-edge machine. Scantruck has partnered with the best global brands to provide the best value for all your material-handling equipment needs. Check out our new electric MHEs here or request a FREE quote from us at marketing@scantruck.com.sg!

Check these tell-tale signs of a forklift tyre nearing the end of its life span. Maintaining your forklift requires you to monitor its tyres constantly. A machine with worn-out tyres may malfunction, break down, or cause accidents during your operations, costing you a lot of money. 1. Check the tyre lettering An easy way to guess the remaining life span of your tyre is by checking the lettering on its side walls. If your tyre doesn’t feature a safety line, you can check if there is more than an inch of space between the edge of the tyre and the lettering. If the tyre has worn down to an inch or less, it may be time to replace it. 2. Check the tyre’s safety line Some tyre brands include a safety line which, like the example above, indicates when a tyre is meant to be replaced based on how close the tyre’s edge is to the line. If your tyre has a safety line, check if the edge is near or has completely worn down to the safety line before replacing it. 3. Check for chunking, cracking, or tearing If your forklift’s tyres have visible chunking, cracking, or tears in certain spots, you should probably start replacing them. 4. Check for flat spots Flat spots on a tyre indicate internal damage. A damaged tyre is dangerous to machine operators and may cause accidents. Replace your forklift’s tyres immediately if you notice a flat spot forming. Check out our article on forklift maintenance here. For material handling equipment spare parts in Singapore, go to Scantruck. We offer tyre replacement services to keep your forklifts in top condition. Along with a one-to-one Wheel Exchange Program, these services come with primary on-site care and breakdown services. If you’re interested in availing of our services, email us at marketing@scantruck.com.sg for a free consultation!

Forklifts are heavy machinery that allow us to move and organise massive or oversized items within our area of operations. If not properly handled or driven without proper training, your forklift may cause severe injury or even death. In this article, we'll give you five safety tips to help you use your machine safely. Tip 1: Train your operators. The first step in practising safe forklift operations is training your operators. Even before they touch your machine, your workers need to be prepared to operate your forklift safely and be guided on how to act accordingly if the machine moves or manoeuvres unexpectedly during emergencies. It will also help if you familiarise your operators with handling different types of forklifts to build their skills. Tip 2: Maintain your forklift. A faulty machine can be the cause of serious injury. Make sure you and your operators check the status of your forklift before and after use to ensure breakdowns are mitigated, and safety is maximised. Regular check-ups for these areas are a must. • Seat belts • Tyres • Lights • Horns • Brakes • Backup alarms • Fluid levels • Moving and load-supporting parts If you or your workers find worn-down signs and faults during your inspection, wait until it is fully repaired before resuming operations. Tip 3: Observe the rules while operating. Your operators must always abide by safe operating habits while using your forklift. During their training, you must educate them on proper operating procedures like driving at the appropriate speed, using mirrors and spotters for visibility, and using headlights when operating at night or in dimly-lit areas. Tip 4: Remember the "stability triangle." Forklifts operate on a three-point suspension system. These support points form what is known as a "stability triangle", which starts at the two front wheels and ends in between the rear axle. To avoid tipping over, operators must always stay inside this triangle and keep their loads within or near it. While operating your forklift, keep in mind these five things: • Always check if your load is stable and safely secured before driving. • Do not carry loads that are too heavy or beyond your forklift's carrying capacity. • Drive slowly, especially when the floors are wet and slippery. • Turn corners with care. • Try to avoid making any abrupt stops and starts. Keeping your load within the stability triangle is crucial when carrying heavy loads with your forklift. Always take care and observe these tips to avoid tipping your machine. Tip 5: Load your forklift safely Proper loading can be the most crucial part of operations. Improper loading can cause you to break or lose your products or even cause workplace accidents and death if done incorrectly. Before loading, always assess the dimensions of your load, the terrain's stability, and your machine's. Some useful loading tips include: • Slightly tilting your forklift's upright backwards. • Moving the forks apart before loading. • Lifting the load at least 4 inches above the lowest stack. • Keeping the heaviest loads at the bottom and the lightest on top. • Lowering the forks first while placing the load before backing away. For more tips on forklift safety, read this article. With these five tips, you can start using your new forklift safely and securely! Scantruck delivers all your forklift needs in Singapore. For recommendations, please view our catalogue of Komatsu forklifts here. For more information, please email us at marketing@scantruck.com.sg for a free consultation!

Implemented in 2006, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act of Singapore holds stakeholders and business owners accountable for keeping their workers safe. This act covers all workplaces except those exempted, hazardous substances like explosive, corrosive, flammable substances, and machinery and equipment, like MHE, such as forklifts. Four key features mark the WSH act: 1. The placement of all responsibility on its stakeholders to ensure safety at the workplace. 2. A focus on the outcomes of these measures, not mere compliance or observance. 3. The proper enforcement through the issuance of remedial orders. 4 . Imposition of higher penalties for violators. To give you an idea of some of the higher penalties, here is a list of offences and their corresponding fines: 1. For general penalties: • Individuals must pay $200,000 after their first conviction and $400,000 for any repeat convictions – they could face up to 2 years imprisonment, too. • Corporations must pay $500,000 after their first conviction and $1,000,000 for any repeat convictions. 2. For refusing to comply with an order: • For refusing to comply with remedial orders, the initial fine is $50,000, with an additional $5,000 for each day. • For refusing to comply with stop-work orders, the initial fine is $500,000, with an additional $20,000 for each day. • Both could result in up to 12 months of imprisonment. The WSH ensures that businesses under this act will keep their workers safe and avoid injuries while operating their equipment, such as the forklift. Being the sole distributor of the Komatsu forklift in Singapore and West Malaysia, Scantruck understands the advantages and costs of owning and operating material-handling equipment such as the forklift. That's why we offer a forklift service contract to all our partners that include: • Discounted prices for spare parts • Regular maintenance checks • Repairs and breakdown services at lower prices – we'll coordinate all the necessary transportation! Contact us for a FREE consultation! We’re more than happy to help you get the service or products that you need.

Tyres affect vehicle performance more than you’d think! Here are 5 tips to ensure you’re maximising yours. Apart from allowing a forklift to move, the type of tyre actually affects the vehicle’s performance, too. Whether a forklift can carry a heavy load or can run on different types of terrain without breaking down, that all boils down to the tyres. So how do you know you’re getting the most out of your tyre selection? We compiled a few things to look out for to help you out: 1. Select the correct tyre While there are a number of tyres available on the market, there are three main types you need to look out for. Here’s what each do: • Pneumatic: can withstand high speeds and long distances and driven over different types of terrain • Solid: made using pure rubber and meant to be used exclusively on smooth surfaces • Resilient: a hybrid of both, they have an anti-abrasive layer, a soft shock-absorbent layer, and a rigid base to keep the tyres secure 2. Make sure your tyres are high quality When it comes to buying tyres, do not be afraid of spending a bit more – this will actually lower your costs in the long run. Manufacturer-approved tyres are less prone to wear and tear than cheap tyres, which will keep your breakdown and repair costs lower in the long run. 3. Let your tyres cool down All tyres, even the highest quality ones, have one weakness: high heat. Since they’re made of rubber, exposure to too much heat may cause them to melt and break down. At most, tyres can go 2 kilometres nonstop before they need a 15-minute break to cool down. 4. Look out for tyre marks Some forklifts are designed to preserve a tyre’s quality for longer, like Komatsu, for example. This doesn’t mean they won’t need replacing eventually. An easy way to check whether or not a tyre needs to be changed is by keeping an eye out for black skid marks on the floor, which only happens when a tyre has been thoroughly worn down. Aside from tyre marks, here are 4 more signs your tyres may need replacing. 5. Check your tyres before driving – every time Driving a tyre with cracks or holes could lead to accidents. The best way to prevent this is simply by doing a tyre check before driving the forklift. Need extra tyre assistance? As your one-stop shop for all your vehicles and material-handling equipment needs, Scantruck offers a one-for-one solid tyre replacement program. On top of this, we have a forklift service contract that includes the following: • Discounted prices for spare parts • Regular maintenance checks • Repairs and breakdown services at lower prices – we’ll coordinate all the necessary transportation! If you are interested in any of these services, our selection of forklifts, or material-handling equipment, feel free to give us a call at 6305 6600. We’ll even throw in a FREE quote!

From the basic necessities to optional features, here's ALL you need to know about purchasing and owning a forklift in Singapore. The Basics: What you should look for in a forklift 1. Tonnage/Capacity The load size of your goods determines the forklift tonnage you need. Here's a rule of thumb: a suitable forklift should have a gross weight of at least 1 ton more than the stated lifting capacity. So, for example, a 2.5-tonnage forklift should have a gross weight of around 3.5 tons. 2. Fuel Type Many factors determine the type of fuel that powers your forklift. The main two types are: Diesel – Affordable, low maintenance, and emits smoke. Electric – Costs more but has cleaner emissions. Forklifts also come in gasoline, LPG, and hybrid models, but these are less common. Most forklifts in Singapore use diesel for general applications. However, some industries, such as those operating in the food sector, require non-diesel forklifts. 3. Lifting Height, Mast, and Overall Height Before buying your forklift, two good questions to ask are: • How high do you need to lift goods? • Will the machine be operating in an area with a height restriction? You'll need a machine with a low overall height when working in a space with height restrictions. For example, in Singapore, container loading and unloading is a common job for forklifts. So when you need your forklift to access the inside of the container, you'll definitely need a machine with a low mast! A lower mast is achieved by adding extra stages to the mast extension. A basic model forklift only has 2-stages. Adding additional stages to the mast will entail a higher cost but lower mast height; therefore, a 3-stage (low-mast) forklift is more expensive than a 2-stage machine. Forklifts with low masts are usually 2.2 meters tall, small enough to fit inside a container that's 2.3 meters in height. Opting for a high mast model can save you money on your initial purchase if the overall height is not an issue. However, if you plan on reselling your forklift, buyers typically prefer low mast models, at least in the Singapore market. Lastly, your machine's lifting capacity is also important to consider. Lift capacity decreases the higher your forklift lifts. For example, if you need to raise 2 tons of goods to a height of 4.5 meters, you'll need a forklift with a 2.5-tonnage capacity instead of a 2-tonnage forklift. Optional Parts & Features: What you should consider Factor these features based on the types of jobs you want your forklift to do and the location of your operations. 1. Fork length This depends on the base dimensions of your goods and pallets. Fork lengths usually come at around 1,220 millimetres in length here in Singapore, so ensure the fork is long enough to reach the loaded good's centre of gravity. 2. Attachments & accessories Entry-level forklifts will have lifting and tilting as primary functions. The most common attachment is the side shifter which is an additional valve that allows your fork to move side-to-side. Most forklifts in Singapore will feature a side shifter. Buying a machine that doesn't have one may save you a few hundred dollars; however, the resale market prefers forklifts with a side shifter. 3. Tyres In Singapore, almost all forklifts use a solid tyre because It's puncture-proof and safer but also costs more than a pneumatic tyre. On the other hand, pneumatic tyres offer more steering comfort and are more affordable than solid tyres but are more prone to punctures. Necessary considerations: These will determine which forklift you'll choose. 1. Price Price is what drives the majority of your purchasing decisions. Some brands may offer very low prices but poor value with their products. When purchasing a forklift, always check if the machine's price tag matches its value – an example would be checking if its resale value is high or if the seller offers flexible payment options suited to your needs. At Scantruck, we believe in providing value to all of our customers! 2. After-sales support Beyond your purchase lies additional maintenance costs and servicing. You better make sure that whoever sells you your forklift has a good record of after-sales support. Always ask your forklift seller what they include in their after-sales support (or if they even have one). Scantruck is the sole distributor of Komatsu forklifts – a 100% reliable Japanese brand – in Singapore and West Malaysia. We'll provide you with ALL the information you need to make an informed decision. Invest in or rent a forklift from us, and we'll provide you with the types of forklifts suited for your needs. We also offer flexible payment options and excellent after-sales support for 100% customer satisfaction. Request a FREE quote on our Komatsu forklift today at 6305 6600.

Scantruck is joining the Automechanika Dubai Expo this year–here’s what you can expect! If you want to get better acquainted with the automotive industry, mark your calendars for Automechanika Dubai 2023. It’s the largest international trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and service industry in the broader Middle East, and this year marks its 20th, so expect an exciting expo! Guests are welcome to expand their network, explore new opportunities, get updates on the latest trends and solutions, evaluate market trends, and exchange expertise with other attendees, making it an ideal one-stop trade platform for many businesses. From 02 October until 04 October 2023, you can find Scantruck at Hall 3, Booth G-09 at the Singapore Pavilion, Dubai World Trade Center. Since 1984, Scantruck has been handling the distribution of the industry’s proven top-quality OEM and aftermarket brands, such as: ZF Friedrichshafen AG Aftermarket Wabco Sachs Knorr-Bremse Hengst Mitsubishi Electric Mann Filter Kongsberg Automotive HELLA Kolbenschmidt Pierburg Bosch FTE Automotive Dayco Nissens SEG Automotive Paccar DT Spare Parts Cojali Euroricambi CEI Weweller Vaden Original Komatsu Scantruck has built a strong network of partners and customers in Asia and beyond, and we’re excited to grow this even more at Automechanika Dubai. Looking for the right spare parts for your European Commercial Vehicle? Register for Scantruck at Automechanika Dubai at marketing@scantruck.com.sg to schedule an appointment and get a free limited souvenir!