Lift trucks have undergone a major change ever since their introduction to the market during the 1920s. These machines are now much smarter and stronger. They have changed the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses in our warehouse and distribution centres all around the world.
Initially, during their launch roughly 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized equipment designed to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These units are offered in a huge range of weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. In addition, these equipments are offered with different ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible can really increase the overall productivity attained during a shift.
One of the only remaining universal features that are on the wide range of forklifts available nowadays are the tires that move the machinery and the forks that are used to lift loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of forklifts utilized in manufacturing centers, distribution centers and warehousing applications is covered in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: Electric forklift units as well as IC or Internal Combustion models.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks comprise Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of forklift is the counterbalanced sit-down kind of the lift truck. A weight situated in the back of this machinery is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks will usually have lifting heights of approximately 16 feet, or 189 inches. Also, these models are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come equipped with backup alarms and other safety features such as lights.
Approximately 60% percent are electric units and roughly 40% percent are internal combustion models. Every type of lift truck has a particular place and is best to complete a lot of various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outdoors or inside and what particular types of loads you will be utilizing as well as what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on determines the kind of lift truck that you would choose.