Think carefully about used trucks

It is easy to get your fingers burnt if you don't know what to look for when buying a used forklift, says Neil Warren, Jungheinrich UK's used equipment and short term rental director

The UK lift truck market is 'flooded' with cheaply refurbished used forklift trucks, but buyers are being warned that 'second life' trucks that appear to be a bargain often turn out to be anything but. Many used trucks which are offered for sale as 'refurbished' have merely been cleaned, serviced and repainted and their performance levels can often leave a buyer feeling short changed.

The market is awash with used equipment at the moment. The majority is sold by reputable dealers, who in the main are moving on machines which have returned from long term contracts.

Some of these machines are third and fourth life contracts that have worked in some tough applications and have no service history. I think it is fair to say that truck refurbishment standards and processes fluctuate wildly from dealer to dealer.

It is very hard to verify the quality of what you are buying from, for example, an internet advertisement. Everyone will view a truck before they purchase but it is impossible for the user to know what the tell tale signs of a low quality refurbishment are. Because most forklift truck users are not fully trained to spot signs of wear and tear - perhaps around the mast and the axle - I would advise anyone looking for a used truck to try and find a certified lift truck Thorough Examination engineer to take a look at the truck for you before you buy.

The difficult trading conditions have seen a sharp rise in demand for used trucks. Indeed, sales of Jungheinrich's 'second life' machines have doubled in the past year. However, wherever possible, Jungheinrich limits the number of used Jungheinrich-branded trucks that re-enter the market via independent dealers.

Used Jungheinrich trucks are refurbished to the highest standards at the Group's Dresden factory where every machine is completely dismantled and all worn or defective parts are replaced - including tyres and lift chains. The trucks are cleaned inside and out and repainted before being reassembled and safety tested.

We are the first forklift truck manufacturer to have a factory dedicated to used truck refurbishment. The advantage of this is we know all of the trucks that leave Dresden have been overhauled according to Jungheinrich's quality standards.