Since their introduction in the material handling business in the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge evolution. These days, these high tech machines are much stronger and smarter. They have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all over the world.
The first forklifts approximately 100 years ago, started as really simple pieces of motorized machinery that were only capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, extremely sophisticated models flood the marketplace. These models are available in a huge array of weight capacities, different designs and numerous lifting heights. Furthermore, these vehicles come with different ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible could really increase the overall production attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires enable the equipment to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic design and application of different kinds of lift trucks utilized in distribution facilities, warehousing operations and manufacturing centers is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Internal Combustion or IC units, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
In this class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common kind of lift truck. This unit is the sit-down, counterbalanced type. A weight situated in the back of this machine is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks will typically have lifting heights of about 16 feet, or 189 inches. Moreover, these units can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are available with backup alarms and different other kinds of safety features such as lights.
About 60% percent are electric models and about 40% percent are IC models. Each kind of forklift has a specific place and is best to accomplish many various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the machinery outside or indoors and what kind of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what particular types of cargo you will be using determines the kind of lift truck that you would select.