Forklifts are used to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 basic types of lift trucks: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in a lot of cases have a protected cab or seat in their design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and consist of features such as cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machine from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or different types of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration comprise stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for lift trucks include their fuel type and tire.
Different fuel options for forklifts comprise: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand provide excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Finally, Class VII forklifts are the perfect choice for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII forklifts include all burden carriers and employee carriers.