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When it comes to choosing a forklift, there’s a lot to consider. There are many different machines, suited to many different needs, and a big part of that choice comes down to brand.
Each forklift brand has its own angle, offering different manufacturing techniques, technologies and commitments. Many take a specialism, designing machines for different purposes and working in completely different ways. Like CESAB and their IMD ‘Intelligent mast design’ A class leading forward visibility provides faster and more accurate load handling and their ISD ‘Intelligent Stability Design, This active security system allows the driver to fully and securely use the full potential of the truck.
As an operation, you want a forklift truck that suits your specific needs, with the reliability to back it up. A big factor in the quality and reliability of any material handling equipment is the brand behind it.
At Multy Lift, we supply an incredible range of forklifts from leading brands. Offering professional servicing and maintenance, our qualified mobile engineers can work on all makes and models of trucks.
In this article, we share our top picks from our experience, and what you should consider to make the right choice.
Our top forklift brands picks
Cesab
Founded in 1942 in Bologna, Italy, Cesab is a world-class forklift manufacturer. Part of the Toyota Industries Group since 2001, Cesab benefits from the same high standards of quality and reliability. It’s a leading European manufacturer of electric, diesel and gas forklift trucks, as well as a wide range of other material handling machines.
Cesab’s machines are engineered using state-of-the-art techniques, with designs that offer superior reliability and performance. Quality sits at the heart of every product, each one built for high performance and maximum uptime.
Aisle Master
Aisle Master, founded in 2000, is a specialist articulated forklift manufacturer. They manufacture VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) forklifts, a type of forklift designed for operation in aisles as small as 1.6 metres. They also offer a pedestrian range for simpler and safer operation.
Their machines are engineered to maximise warehouse space, with tighter racking made possible by their narrow-aisle design. Aisle Master boast storage capacity can be increased by up to 50%, offering a smarter option to expanding or relocating your facility.
Combilift
Combilift is globally recognised as the world’s leading multi-directional forklift manufacturer. Founded in 1998, they’re one of the fastest-growing forklift brands, with over 100,000 trucks in use across the world.
Combilift’s range started with the world’s first internal combustion, all-wheel-drive multidirectional forklift. Since then, it’s expanded to include advanced loaders, straddle carriers, and pedestrian stackers – with innovation at the core of every machine.
JCB
A world-class equipment manufacturer, JCB has been manufacturing industrial forklifts since 1997. They’re recognised for their unique forklift design, featuring a telescopic boom instead of a conventional vertical mast.
Their forklifts, as with all JCB equipment, are designed with safety in mind, featuring a full suite of safety features as standard. Designed for industrial and logistics material handling, JCB’s Teletruk machines are considered one of the most versatile forklifts on the market.
Konecranes
Konecranes is a Finnish manufacturer of industrial forklifts, designed for heavy-duty lifting at ports, container terminals, shipyards, and heavy manufacturing plants. They’re recognised as a global leader in material handling solutions, dedicated to lifting equipment that improves efficiency and performance.
Their forklift range, Konecranes E-VER, combines the quality, power and productivity of their conventional lift trucks with the latest eco-efficient technology. Delivering high productivity and low lifecycle cost, Konecranes engineers forklifts for exceptional lifting performance.
Prins (Prins Holland)
Prins Holland is a Dutch forklift manufacturer, founded back in 1958. They take a unique angle, customising forklift trucks from Cesab/Toyota, specifically for unpaved, uneven and demanding surfaces where factory-standard forklifts fall short.
Their range includes the Tiger, Boxer and Shifter models, each adapted for container fields and agricultural environments. Each of Prins’s machines is uniquely modified, updated with the latest technology, large pneumatic tyres, and removable counterweights.
Choosing the right brand: what to consider
With so many strong brands on the market each offering something different, there’s a lot to consider. The right choice all depends on your operation.
Match the brand to your application
Some brands manufacture forklifts for general use across a wide range of industries and applications. Others, like Aisle Master, Konecranes and Prins, specialise in specific environments – narrow aisles, heavy-duty port operations, or rough terrain. Think about what you actually need a forklift for, and match your needs to a forklift manufacturer that’s best suited to that.
Think beyond price
The cheapest machine upfront isn’t always the most cost-effective over its lifespan, Truelife costs can turn out to be double if not triple the cost of buying a better quality forklift like a CESAB from the outset, the saying goes, buy cheap, buy twice, and this is usually the case with cheap forklift, trucks, the other thing to think about is parts availability, if you have a breakdown and the forklift needs a part, can the part be sourced quickly enough and at a competitive price, with cheap forklifts this isn’t always the case, so your forklift can be down for weeks even months for a simple part that’s not in stock or cannot be sourced in the UK and has to be shipped from China. Servicing costs, parts availability, fuel or charging efficiency, and expected downtime all affect cost and more importantly, your business and its efficiency long term. More importantly, the machine needs to do exactly what you need. Going with the better quality option might not only be more suitable, but if it’s from a reputable brand like CESAB, it can work out cheaper over its lifetime.
Talk to the experts
Every operation is different, and the right brand for one business won’t always be right for another. Talking to forklift experts, such as Multy Lift, can help you find the best forklift brand for your unique operational needs.
Here to help find the best forklifts
At Multy Lift, our experts are here to help you find the right forklifts. We offer a wide range of forklifts and other material handling equipment from leading manufacturers, including Cesab, Aisle Master, Combilift and all our other top picks.
To speak to our team, get in touch with us today – we’re always happy to help. As one of the UK’s leading CESAB forklift dealers, you can trust us like many other businesses do to support your business and its material handling requirements.
Already established your fleet, and looking for a partner to keep everything running reliably? Our professional servicing and maintenance has you covered.
