Lift trucks are used in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the back of the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come complete with a motorized drive and in many cases have a seat or protected cab in their design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from tipping over, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into consideration when selecting lift trucks consist of stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks include their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts consist of different fuel options such as: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic types of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand offer excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Furthermore, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines would have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are normally utilized in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.