Ever since their introduction in the material handling business during the 1920s, lift trucks have undergone a huge change. These days, these machines are much smarter and stronger. These kinds of equipment have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our warehouse and distribution centres all around the world.
The initial forklifts about 100 years ago, started as very simple pieces of motorized machines which were only capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really advanced models flood the marketplace. These units are available in various weight capacities, many lifting heights and different designs. Additionally, these equipments come with different ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible can greatly increase the overall efficiency attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are forks and tires. Tires allow the machinery to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic application and design of various types of forklifts utilized in manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and warehousing applications is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Electric lift truck units and Internal Combustion or IC models.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts consist of: 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 type of forklift is the sit-down counterbalanced version of the forklift. A weight situated in the back of this equipment is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts will normally have lifting heights of about 16 feet, or 189 inches. Moreover, these models can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are available with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
The forklift market is now divided into approximately 60% electric models, with 40% IC units. Each type of forklift has a specific place and is best to complete a lot of different tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machinery outdoors or inside and what particular types of cargo you would be using as well as what kind of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on determines the type of lift truck that you would pick.