Ever since their launch in the material handling business during the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge evolution. These days, these high tech machines are much smarter and stronger. These types of equipment have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our warehouse and distribution facilities all over the world.
At first, during their launch approximately 100 years ago, lift trucks were very simple pieces of motorized equipment made to transport pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really advanced models are offered in the marketplace. These models are offered in different weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and different designs. Furthermore, these kinds of vehicles are available with different ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfortable as possible could greatly add to the overall efficiency accomplished during a shift.
One of the only remaining universal features that are on the wide array of forklifts available nowadays are the tires that move the machinery and the forks that are utilized to pick up loads. The basic application and design of various kinds of forklifts used in warehousing applications, manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities is included in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: IC or Internal Combustion models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this category, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common kind of forklift. This unit is the sit-down, counterbalanced version. A weight located in the rear of this machine is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts would usually have lifting heights of roughly 16 feet, or 189 inches. As well, these models can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are available with backup alarms and different other types of safety features like lights.
About 60% percent are electric units and about 40% percent are internal combustion models. Each and every type of lift truck has a particular place and is ideal to accomplish many various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outdoors or indoors and what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of cargo you will be utilizing determines the kind of forklift which you would pick.