Future-proofing your fleet with reliability

Investing in material handling equipment is more than a one-time purchase. The real value is in the consistency of performance, in the speed of service support, and in the reassurance that your equipment won't let you down when you need it most. That’s why it’s essential to carefully consider not only the product you’re buying from your material handling equipment supplier, but also the aftersales service they offer.

The power of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts

Reliable operation starts at the component level. "The benefits of OEM parts is more so in the detail than the overall," says Barry Parks, Linde Material Handling's Service Operations Manager. "If you look at something as simple as an oil filter, an OEM part may have a relief valve in it, so that should the filter get clogged, it can bypass and still supply a level of oil to lubricate the engine."

An aftermarket alternative might skip this safeguard, leading to catastrophic damage. "If the oil filter gets clogged, and you have cut that cost, then the engine could effectively run without oil going through it for a short period of time. That could be said for a lot of other components."

Long-term savings over short-term wins

"By going for the best option, you are future-proofing yourself," Barry says.

A quality forklift combined with dependable service means more uptime, fewer surprises, and a better resale value.

"If you choose the best solution, you will be guaranteed more uptime, more reliability, potentially a better trade-in value. And it’s no different to a car. If you choose the cheapest, unsupported model and you break down, the costs can be significant. Hiring a replacement, transport delays, lost productivity—it all adds up.”

Barry also explains what this can mean in real costs to a business.

“It’s important to weigh up what downtime could cost your business. ‘If my line drops, does it cost me $1,000 an hour? Does it cost me $10,000 a day if the forklift breaks down and you’ve got a truck there?’ All of a sudden, the costs you were saving upfront are outweighed by your losses."

Technical expertise matters

Reliable forklifts need reliable service, and that comes down to technical knowledge. "The reason that you need in-depth knowledge of the forklifts you maintain is that it gives you speed," Barry explains.

"The experience to be able to go up to a forklift and understand its diagnosis process, and understand the problematic parts gives you speed. You’re more likely to have the part in the van. You’re more likely to get a speedy repair."

So how can businesses tell if their supplier has the right expertise?

"Look at the service network," Barry advises.

"How many technicians do they have compared to how many forklifts are under management? What’s their parts throughput versus stock levels?" These checks can indicate whether the supplier is stocking what’s needed to support you.

For Linde, consistency is key. "A lot of our parts are across our fleets. That gives us consistency and allows us to consolidate our parts; it gives us a greater scope of getting those known wearable components in stock for support."

Diagnostic accuracy is another essential consideration. All Linde service technicians are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and have in-depth knowledge of Linde equipment. This combination significantly reduces guesswork and ensures a faster resolution.

"If you want confidence in your fleet, you need confidence in your service partner," Barry says. "At Linde, we invest heavily in technician training so that we can offer our customers not just speed, but certainty."

Not all suppliers are created equal

"When you’re an independent seller, you are not required to hold parts. You are not required to have knowledge," Barry explains. "There’s an expectation from the wholesaler that you will have a level of competence to look after the machines, but they’re not part of the face of the product."

The result? While the product might work well for a while, the moment it breaks down, you could be stuck. "You end up with a product that, whilst it’s running it’s good, but when it breaks down you could find yourself looking for other support mechanisms."

The benefit of Baoli

While a lower-priced forklift might be tempting, it’s essential to ensure the company you’re purchasing from has a robust service and spare parts network.

"When we talk about Baoli, yes it’s our value range," says Barry. "But our main selling point around Baoli is that it’s distributed and supported by Linde Material Handling, part of the second-largest logistics supplier globally, the KION Group. Yes, it’s a value forklift but it’s who you’re getting it from. That’s what matters most."

When the forklift arrives, it may look similar on the surface—but the difference is in the support. With Baoli, you’re buying into the backing of the KION Group, ensuring access to trained technicians, OEM parts, national service coverage and responsive backup support.

"We’re a business that can support you from one small MT15 all the way up to a 16-tonne container handling forklift. We see it in our best interest to grow with you. Being a part of our solution only makes your organisation stronger."

Keep up to date with the latest in material handling reliability, safety and innovation by visiting our Content Hub and subscribing to our quarterly newsletter. And for the latest news and updates on all things Linde, follow us on LinkedIn.

SHARE