Forklifts are utilized within warehousing, manufacturing, construction, mining and material handling applications to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In lots of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different type that are motorized and comprise features such as cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machine from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks comprise stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks consist of their type of fuel and tire.
Different fuel options for forklifts include: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide great load-cushioning and drive traction.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
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 lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Furthermore, this class uses solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines would have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to 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 class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are usually used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and employee carriers.