Lift trucks are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are equipped with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machine from overturning, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when choosing forklifts consist of 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 comprise their fuel type and tire.
Different fuel options for forklifts include: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires need less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand provide excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and can have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These models provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines would have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are commonly utilized in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII forklifts include all employee carriers and burden carriers.