Since their launch in the material handling business during the 1920s, lift trucks have undergone a huge evolution. Nowadays, these machines are much smarter and stronger. They have changed the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our distribution and warehouse facilities all over the globe.
At first, during their launch around 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized equipment made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, extremely advanced models flood the marketplace. These units are available in different weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. Furthermore, these kinds of machinery are offered with a variety of ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible could greatly add to the overall efficiency accomplished during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features that are on the wide variety of lift trucks available today are the tires that move the machine and the forks that are utilized to pick up loads. The basic design and application of various types of forklifts utilized in distribution centers, warehousing operations and manufacturing facilities is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Electric forklift units and Internal Combustion or IC units.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of lift truck is the counterbalanced sit-down kind of the forklift. A weight located in the rear of this machine 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 approximately 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Moreover, these models are capable of lifting 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 for example lights.
The forklift market is presently divided into around 60 percent electric models, with 40% IC units. Each kind of lift truck has a specific place and is ideal to accomplish many different jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machine outside or inside and what type of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on, as well as what particular kinds of loads you would be utilizing determines the type of forklift that you would select.