Forklifts are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, mining, material handling and construction applications to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and comprise features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the vehicle from turning over, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models comprise safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When selecting forklifts, important specifications to take into account consist of stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-lowered and the fully-raised lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks consist of their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts include different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, 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: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires need less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand offer great drive traction and load-cushioning.
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. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. In addition, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Lastly, Class VII forklifts are the ideal option for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and employee carriers.