Since their launch in the material handling business in the 1920s, forklifts have undergone a huge change. These days, these machines are a lot stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all over the globe.
The first lift trucks about 100 years ago, began as really simple pieces of motorized machines that were only capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. Today, very sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These units are offered in a wide variety of weight capacities, different designs and many lifting heights. Furthermore, these types of vehicles come with a variety of ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible could greatly add to the overall production accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on nearly all 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 design and application of various kinds of lift trucks used in warehousing applications, manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Internal Combustion or IC units, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts consist of: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of forklift is the sit-down counterbalanced type of the lift truck. A weight situated in the machine's back is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Normally, a counterbalanced forklift has a lifting height of about 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Additionally, these models are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are offered with backup alarms and different other kinds of safety features such as lights.
The lift truck market is currently divided into roughly 60% electric models, with 40% Internal Combustion units. Every kind of lift truck has a specific place and is best to complete a lot of various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be utilizing the machine outside or inside and what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what specific types of cargo you would be utilizing determines the kind of forklift which you will pick.