Buying guides for pallet trucks, trolleys and scales

What the three guides cover

The guides are written for the people who buy handling equipment for a cash and carry, wholesaler, independent retailer, food distributor or warehouse. One guide per range. Each one opens with a quick answer, then works through the buyer questions we are asked most on WhatsApp.

• Electric pallet truck buying guide: which truck to buy, electric against semi-electric against hand, capacity, forks, batteries, training and inspection.
• Cash and carry trolley buying guide: what a cash and carry trolley is, stock trolleys, roll cages against roll containers, sides, castors, finish and safe use.
• Trade approved scales in the UK: what trade approved and Class III mean, the Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016, marks to look for, calibration and Trading Standards.

The guides explain the law and the choices. They do not list prices. Every product on the site shows a Get a trade price on WhatsApp button instead, and prices are quoted ex VAT to business customers only.

Which electric pallet truck do I need?

The electric pallet truck buying guide answers the question in its first paragraph: a 1500 kg lithium electric pallet truck for all-day pallet movement, 2000 kg for drinks, flour and mixed heavy pallets, semi-electric when the effort is pushing rather than lifting, and a 2500 kg hand pallet truck as backup.

Sections you can jump to:

• Which electric pallet truck do I need?
• Electric vs semi-electric vs hand pallet truck
• Which capacity do I need: 1500 kg or 2000 kg?
• Fork sizes and pallets
• Lithium-ion vs lead-acid batteries
• How much does an electric pallet truck cost in the UK?
• New or used electric pallet truck?
• Training, PUWER and licences
• LOLER thorough examination, daily checks and servicing
• Wheels and floors
• Ramps, tail-lifts, lorries and outdoor use
• How much does an electric pallet truck weigh?
• Buying for a cash and carry, wholesaler, food distributor or warehouse

Models covered: the 1500 kg lithium electric pallet truck, the 2000 kg lithium electric pallet truck, the 2000 kg semi-electric pallet truck and the 2500 kg hand pallet truck.

Cash and carry trolleys, stock trolleys and roll cages explained

The cash and carry trolley buying guide is the one place on the site that sorts out the UK names: cash and carry trolley, stock trolley, picking trolley, platform trolley, roll cage, roll container, roll pallet and cage trolley. It then covers what to measure in mm and what to check in kg before you order.

Sections you can jump to:

• What is a cash and carry trolley?
• What is a roll cage?
• 2 sided, 3 sided or 4 sided roll cage
• How much weight does a trolley need to carry?
• What size trolley fits your aisles?
• Castors and wheels
• Zinc plated vs powder coated
• Can trolleys and roll cages be used outdoors?
• Safe use
• New vs used trolleys and roll cages

Models covered: the 246 L narrow aisle cash and carry trolley, the 5 wheel cash and carry trolley, the 6 wheel stock trolley and the zinc plated roll cage.

Trade approved scales in the UK: what Class III means

The trade approved scales guide explains when the law requires an approved scale. If the weight sets the price, the scale must be approved under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and the Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016. Goods-in checks, despatch checks and portioning do not need approval.

Sections you can jump to:

• What is a trade approved scale?
• What is a Class III scale?
• Do I need trade approved scales?
• How to check a scale is trade approved
• What happens if Trading Standards find non-approved scales in use?
• Pallet scale or floor scale?
• Class III scale accuracy
• What IP rating should a warehouse or food scale have?
• Printing weight tickets and connecting to your system
• Calibration, verification and re-verification

Our launch range is platform scales of 150 kg, 300 kg and 600 kg and a 2000 kg pallet scale, all for check-weighing and goods-in. Approved models for selling by weight can be quoted on request.

How the guides are written

Every guide follows the same rules, so you can trust what you read and skip what you do not need.

• Answer first. The first sentence of every section is the answer; the rest is the reasoning.
• Confirmed figures only. A capacity in kg or a size in mm appears only when it is confirmed for the model we sell. Anything not yet confirmed is described in words, not guessed.
• The law by name. PUWER 1998 regulation 9 on training, LOLER 1998 on thorough examination, the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and the Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 are cited where they apply.
• No prices in the guides. Trade prices are quoted ex VAT on WhatsApp, to business customers only.

Sales only. We do not hire. We do not sell used equipment. We are not a cash and carry.

From guide to order

Once the guide has told you which model you need, ordering takes three steps.

1. Send the product name, quantity, business name and delivery postcode on WhatsApp or by email to sales@londonpallettrucks.co.uk. We reply with a trade price ex VAT and the delivery charge for your postcode.
2. Confirm the order and pay the deposit. Everything is confirmed in writing before you pay. Orders are not cancellable once in production.
3. Your order is placed with our factory partners, shipped by sea and delivered to you. Air freight is quoted on request.

Made to order at our factory partners and delivered to your door by pallet carrier. Typical lead time 8 to 12 weeks from order confirmation. Deposit 30% on order, balance before despatch.

Minimum order applies. Mix models in the range to reach it. See minimum order, delivery and the trade account page for credit terms for UK limited companies and LLPs, subject to checks.