Lift trucks have gone through a major change since their launch to the market during the 1920s. These machines are now a lot stronger and smarter. They have changed the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our distribution and warehouse facilities all around the world.
The initial lift trucks approximately 100 years ago, began as really simple pieces of motorized equipment which were only capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, extremely advanced units flood the marketplace. These models are offered in various weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. In addition, these machinery come with a variety of ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfortable as possible can greatly add to the overall productivity attained during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features that are on the wide variety of forklifts available these days are the tires which move the machinery and the forks that are used to raise loads. The basic application and design of various types of lift trucks utilized in manufacturing centers, distribution centers and warehousing applications is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: IC or Internal Combustion units, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced type of the lift truck. A weight found in the rear of this equipment is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks will usually have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. Moreover, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come equipped with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
The lift truck market is now divided into about 60% electric models, with 40% IC units. Each and every kind of lift truck has a specific place and is ideal to complete a lot of different jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machinery outdoors or inside and what type of terrain and surfaces you would be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of loads you will be utilizing determines the type of forklift which you would select.