Ever since their launch in the material handling industry during the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge change. Today, these machines are much stronger and smarter. These kinds of equipment have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses in our warehouse and distribution centres all around the globe.
The first forklifts about 100 years ago, started as very simple pieces of motorized equipment that were only capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are available in different weight capacities, different designs and many lifting heights. Moreover, these kinds of vehicles are offered with various ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible could greatly add to the overall efficiency accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on nearly all of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires allow the equipment to move around and the forks can lift and carry loads. The basic design and application of various types of forklifts used in distribution centers, warehousing applications and manufacturing centers is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks comprise: IC or Internal Combustion models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts consist of: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this particular class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of forklift is the sit-down counterbalanced version of the lift truck. A weight located in the machine's back is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts will usually have lifting heights of approximately 16 feet, or 189 inches. Additionally, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts are available with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
About 60% percent are electric units and around 40% percent are IC models. Every kind of forklift has a specific place and is suited to accomplish many different jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outdoors or inside and what type of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on, as well as what specific types of cargo you will be using determines the type of forklift which you will select.