Ever since their launch in the material handling industry during the 1920s, forklifts have undergone a huge evolution. These days, these machines are much stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have revolutionized the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our warehouse and distribution centres all around the world.
At first, during their introduction roughly 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized equipment designed to transport pallet loads from one place to another. Today, extremely sophisticated units are offered in the marketplace. These units are available in a wide range of weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. Additionally, these machinery are offered with various ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfortable as possible could really increase the overall production attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on nearly all of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires enable the machine to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic application and design of various types of lift trucks utilized in manufacturing centers, distribution facilities and warehousing applications is covered in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Internal Combustion or IC units, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: 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 type of lift truck. This model is the counterbalanced, sit-down type. A weight located in the equipment's rear is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks will usually have lifting heights of about 16 feet, or 189 inches. What's more, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come equipped with backup alarms and different other kinds of safety features like for example lights.
About 60% percent are electric units and about 40% percent are IC models. Each type of lift truck has a particular place and is ideal to complete many different jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machinery outdoors or inside and what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of cargo you will be using determines the type of lift truck which you would pick.