Lift trucks are utilized in manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are equipped with a motorized drive. In numerous instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and consist of features like backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from overturning, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into consideration when choosing lift trucks include lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-lowered and the fully-raised lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for forklifts consist of their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts consist of various fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major kinds of tires used for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires need less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand provide great load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units could have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts provide 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 usually counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Furthermore, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machinery will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Lastly, Class VII forklifts are the ideal option for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.