You may think that electric forklifts don't pollute since they don't put out emissions like gasoline-powered vehicles do. In fact there are several ways forklifts can damage the environment, but also at least one way that Multi-Shifter industrial wastewater treatment products can help you capture contaminants and dispose of them properly.

Washing Batteries

Terminal corrosion interferes with battery function, shortens battery life and can cause worker injury. Washing off this corrosion by hand is tedious and dangerous. Multi-Shifter battery wash cabinets automate the washing process, freeing up your workers for more important tasks. Our wash cabinets have one important feature in common: they collect the wash water for industrial wastewater treatment.

It may seem obvious that battery wash water contains acid, but that's not the real danger. The water also contains heavy metals such as lead and copper, and even a small amount of these metals can contaminate thousands of gallons of water. Multi-Shifter filtration systems provide industrial wastewater treatment that removes the heavy metals and returns the clean water back to the battery washer for reuse. The metals and other contaminants can be disposed of properly, plus the wash process uses less water. The result is a clean and efficient battery with no environmental contamination.

Washing Trucks

Batteries leak out small amounts of acid and this can cause corrosion of forklift parts over time. Forklifts used in outdoor environments can pick up a lot of mud and debris and this can foul wheels or other moving parts. When you wash your forklifts, you need to recover the water for industrial wastewater treatment. You want to avoid washing any strange chemicals from the forklifts down the drain and you also want to keep the detergent out of the environment. Even biodegradable detergents can still be toxic for months before they break down.

No, Multi-Shifter doesn't offer convenient forklift wash cabinets nor do we know of any company that does. We recommend using a commercial washing service since they will have the facilities to collect and treat the large amount of water used in vehicle washing.

Forklift Fluids

Electric forklifts can leak oil, hydraulic fluid or any number of other dangerous chemicals. The leaks are often very slow, but every drop that spills on the ground is another drop that finds itself in the environment. Maintenance should check vehicle fluid levels routinely to keep the fleet in top shape and any vehicle that is losing fluids quickly should be taken into the shop so the leak can be repaired.

If you will be storing forklifts for a long time, put drip pans or absorbent mats beneath each vehicle. These collect any errant drips so the fluids can be disposed of in a safe and environmentally-responsible manner.

Multi-Shifter battery wash cabinets and filtration systems provide industrial wastewater treatment for the leading source of electric forklift pollution. They are an investment in a healthier fleet and a cleaner planet.

One of the most overlooked aspects of battery maintenance is battery washing. Without proper washing, batteries not only have shorter life but they also endanger workers and equipment. A Multi-Shifter battery wash cabinet should be part of your company's maintenance plan.

Corrosion And Its Hazards

Forklift batteries contain acid, and small amounts of that acid leak out and corrode any metal or other materials it contacts. This is most noticeable on the battery's terminals, where corrosion builds up quite visible. This layer of corrosion impedes the flow of electricity, reduces the battery's efficiency and shortens its useful life. It also causes a buildup of heat and can cause a fire.

Corrosion may be most visible at the terminals, but it affects the battery's casing as well. Acid slowly eats away the casing, threatening its integrity. This causes larger leaks, in some cases large enough to endanger workers. Finally, corroded batteries damage forklift electrical systems. Despite all of these many dangers, the problems can be minimized or eliminated with a regular program of battery washing.

Problems With Battery Wash Services

Battery washing is so critical to proper care that companies exist to do nothing but help you maintain your forklift batteries. Although we understand these companies provide a valuable service, especially to companies with small fleets who may not be able to afford their own wash equipment, they aren't the most cost-effective solutions for larger fleets.

Outside battery maintenance services can be quite expensive, but there is more to the cost than the actual fee. Your batteries are unavailable during the wash process, and for offsite services that might be days. Even if the company comes to your site, you have little control over how long it takes or when these services are available. Your entire fleet might be at a standstill during the wash.

Multi-Shifter Battery Washing Cabinets

Our line of battery washing equipment handles the washing process automatically. These automated cabinets are "set it and forget it" systems that require little worker oversight. Batteries are loaded in and then the machine takes care of feeding, washing and drying each unit. Workers are not exposed to hazardous acids or other compounds.

Battery wash wastewater has to be handled carefully due to the presence of acid and heavy metals such as lead or mercury. Multi-Shifter systems recycle the water to minimize the amount of waste produced. Every drop of wastewater is kept inside the unit with no danger of spills or accidental contamination. When the wash process is done, you can drain the contaminated water for proper disposal.

Don't overlook the importance of battery washing as part of forklift maintenance. Buy one of our inexpensive wash cabinets and enjoy the benefits of longer battery life.

Corrosion on batteries is a serious problem that leads to increased costs, worker injury and forklift damage. There are three ways companies might choose to keep terminals clean, and Multi-Shifter washing equipment is the best of these three choices.

Problems With Manual Washing

Most drivers have a little battery washing experience. Baking soda and a wire brush keep the terminals on car batteries shiny and corrosion free, but this isn't efficient when you have a fleet of vehicles. It takes time and exposes workers to corrosive chemicals and toxic heavy metals.

Another drawback of hand washing is that there really isn't any way to keep the wash water from going down the drain or spilling on the ground and soaking into the soil. Batteries give off small amounts of lead and other heavy metals during the wash process, and even a tiny amount of these metals can devastate a water table. The practice is not only environmentally unsound, but will trigger massive financial penalties for violating government regulations.

What About Battery Washing Companies?

Sometimes the answer is outsourcing. If your company doesn't have the equipment or expertise to do something right, find a vendor who can do it for you. Most forklift fleet managers get cold calls from battery washing companies who offer convenient and environmentally safe washing services for the fleet's batteries.

Although these battery handling services are preferable to manual washing, they are very expensive. Contracting with a cleaning service greatly inflates fleet operating costs, and can seriously jeopardize company profits. Outsourcing is generally used to save money, not spend more, and many forklift fleet managers are looking for an alternative. Luckily there is an alternative that offers the convenience of onsite cleaning with the low cost of doing it yourself: Multi-Shifter dedicated washing stations.

Multi-Shifter Battery Washing Systems

Our battery washers have been designed with one goal in mind: removing corrosion from batteries' terminals. The washing process is automated so operators can complete their tasks quickly and with a minimum of training. Our Programmable Wash Cabinet takes batteries through a feeder system, automatically indexing, washing and drying each cell. The Power Wash Cabinet is easily loaded with our Mobile Shifter vehicle.

Operators are not exposed to dangerous chemicals. Both systems used a closed loop washing system, which has two environmental benefits. It reduces water use by recycling water from the last cycle, and it keeps acids and heavy metals out of the drainage system, and out of the water we drink. Add the Multi-Shifter Environmental Filtration Unit to remove contaminants from the wash water for easy and safe disposal.

Contact Multi-Shifter to find a dealer in your area who can set up your business with the latest in battery washing and water filtering equipment so you can start reducing fleet operating costs right away.

Washing batteries has 2 by-products – a clean battery and dirty water. This waste water is full of Lead, Antimony, Arsenic, Sulfuric Acid, and other contaminates. The EPA mandates that since you are the generator of this waste, you have "Cradle-to-Grave" responsibility for this waste. There is no time limit. You are responsible forever.

How Do You Wash Your Forklift Batteries?
"Go Green" with Multi-Shifter's Wash/Recycle System

Multi-Shifter's Wash/Recycle System cleans your batteries and then removes all the dirt, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, and organic waste. The system is self-contained – no floor drain is needed. You start out with tap water and end up with pure water. No water has to be hauled away.

How do You Dispose of the Waste Water?

If you are dumping the water down the drain, you are in trouble. If you have a vendor washing your batteries and hauling off the water, you are still responsible. "Cradle-to-Grave" still applies. Dumping into lime pits does not address heavy metals such as Lead.

Multi-Shifter's Recycle System Takes Away Cradle-to-Grave Responsibility

Our system traps all the heavy metals in special media tanks. When the tanks are saturated, they are sent in to be flushed. This process cleans the tanks. The heavy metals are then sold back to the metals industry. Then you are issued a Certificate of Reclamation. This states that you have properly disposed of your waste by sending it back to a metals processor to be 100% recycled. This process takes away your "Cradle-to-Grave" liability. With Multi-Shifter you "Take Away the Grave". So, when the EPA comes calling you have documented proof of compliance.

Multi-Shifter Blue is "The New Green" In Battery Washing/Recycling