Lift trucks are used within manufacturing, warehousing, mining, material handling and construction applications to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different kind which are motorized and include features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from turning over, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
When choosing forklifts, essential specifications to take into consideration consist of lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for forklifts consist of their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts include different fuel options like: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major types of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however offer excellent 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 are counterbalanced and could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Furthermore, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Finally, Class VII lift trucks are the perfect choice for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all personnel carriers and burden carriers.