Lift trucks have undergone a major evolution since their launch to the market during the 1920s. These machines are now much smarter and stronger. They have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all over the world.
At first, during their introduction roughly 100 years ago, forklifts were very simple pieces of motorized equipment designed to transport pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, extremely sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These units are available in different weight capacities, many lifting heights and different designs. In addition, these vehicles come with a variety of ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible can really increase the overall efficiency accomplished during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features which are on the wide variety of lift trucks available these days are the tires that move the equipment and the forks that are utilized to raise loads. The basic application and design of different kinds of forklifts used in warehousing applications, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts comprise: Electric forklift units as well as IC or Internal Combustion units.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
In this particular class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are 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 equipment's back is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks would typically have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. Furthermore, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come outfitted with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
The lift truck market is presently divided into about 60% electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Each and every type of lift truck has a particular place and is suited to accomplish a lot of various jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machinery outside or indoors and what specific kinds of cargo you would be utilizing as well as what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on determines the kind of forklift that you would select.