Since their launch in the material handling business in the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge evolution. These days, these high tech machines are a lot stronger and smarter. They have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse facilities all around the globe.
At first, during their introduction roughly 100 years ago, forklifts were very simple pieces of motorized equipment designed to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, extremely sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are available in various weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. In addition, these equipments come with different ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible could really add to the overall production accomplished during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features which are on the huge array of lift trucks available nowadays are the tires that move the machinery and the forks that are utilized to lift loads. The basic design and application of different kinds of forklifts used in distribution facilities, warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities is included in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: IC or Internal Combustion units, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
In this category, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The forklift is the most common kind of forklift. This unit is the sit-down, counterbalanced kind. A weight found 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.
Usually, a counterbalanced forklift has a lifting height of roughly 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Furthermore, these units can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts are offered with backup alarms and various other kinds of safety features like lights.
Roughly 60% percent are electric models and around 40% percent are internal combustion models. Each type of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to accomplish lots of different tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the machine outside or indoors and what specific kinds of loads you will be utilizing as well as what type of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on determines the type of lift truck which you would pick.