Forklifts are essential for material handling in a busy warehouse and another busy setting. Each work environment has various conditions making it hard to find a forklift that works for everyone or everywhere. Fortunately, you can customize the forklift to make it fit your particular needs. One of the simplest ways to customize your forklifts is including lights. There are various lighting options available and you should know what is better for your needs.

Forklift lights come in various categories according to various features and purpose. It is important to choose a reliable supplier with a range of light options to make it easy to choose the best for your forklift. The supplier should offer quality products that come with a warranty and affordable price. Here is a breakdown of forklift light options according to type.

Type of bulb

Halogen lights

These use a regular bulb having a filament prone to damage from shock or vibration. Halogen lights have more amperes draw compared to LED counterparts. This means that halogen lights drain the battery faster lowering the runtime of a battery-powered forklift. However, halogen lights are cheaper than LED lights. It is important to know that halogen lights cost less upfront but cost a bit more in the long run.

LED lights

When selecting forklift lights online , consider LED lights. These are more durable than halogen lights for lacking a filament. Additionally, LED lights never get hot since they don’t use many amperes from the forklift battery. LED lights have lenses made from plastic but not glass making them ideal for use when working with consumable goods. These lights cost a bit more upfront but will save you a lot more in the future. LED lights take more time for a replacement while lowering the monthly energy bill for recharging the battery.

Specialty lights

Red zone light

Mounted on both sides of the forklift overhead guard, red zone lights face the ground like spotlights. These lights shine a red strip lights on the ground to alert other operators and workers of the forklift’s presence. Red zone lights are more effective for standing out in any environment. This lessens chances of accidents, injury, and damage to structures and items.

Strobe lights

These intermittently flash to keep other operators and workers know about the presence of the forklift. Strobe lights come in various colors including amber, red, blue, and clear. You can have the lights mounted in various places on the forklift depending on model and requirements. Find the right lights that match your requirements and space on your forklift .

Blue spotlights

Usually mounted overhead the forklift guard, blue spotlights face the ground and can face the front or behind of the forklift. Choose lights with a distance matching your requirements and application. Blue spotlights alert other operators and other workers about the presence of an oncoming forklift. These lights are very useful when entering and exiting aisles. The color of this light stands out to make everyone notice the forklift. These lights come in various options including travel direction activated, key-activated, and a range of colors including red.

Headlights

Inset headlights

These headlights are on the forklift overhead guard mounted further inward on top. Having these lights mounted inward makes them confined by the overhead guard for protection from damage. However, this reduces the effectiveness of these lights. There is a possibility of the mast blocking some light from projecting forward.

Low profile headlights

The low profile headlights are narrower than regular headlights but mounted in a similar location. This offers better protection to the lights without moving them to the confines of overhead guard. These lights are for mounting on the overhead guard or mast. This gives room for you to select headlights that match your preferred mounting location.

Regular overhead guard headlights

Any forklift having an overhead guard comes with regular headlights mounted on the top near the left and right pillars of the overhead guard. You can modify or remove the standard overhead guard headlights to make them more compatible with other modifications including enclosed operator cabins. This makes the lights more appropriate for your requirements.

Front combination lights

To enhance the functionality of standard overhead guard mounted headlights requires investing in front combination lights. These lights come in various options including parking lights, clearance lights, and turn signal lights. Using a combination of these lights minimizes chances of injury, damage of structures and products, and injuries in your workplace.

Bottom line

Safety is a very important consideration when working with a forklift. Invest in appropriate lights to enhance the safety of anyone using forklifts in your establishment. Various considerations matter when selecting lights for your forklifts including upfront cost vs. long-term savings. The rule of thumb is to invest in lights that enhance safety, fit your budget and will take longer to get replaced.