Lift trucks have undergone a major evolution since their launch to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now much stronger and smarter. They have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our warehouse and distribution facilities all around the world.
At first, during their launch roughly 100 years ago, forklifts were really simple pieces of motorized equipment made to transport pallet loads from one place to another. These days, extremely advanced models are available in the marketplace. These units are available in a wide array of weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. In addition, these kinds of machinery are available with various ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible can greatly 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 machinery to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of lift trucks utilized in warehousing applications, manufacturing centers and distribution facilities is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Internal Combustion or IC units, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks comprise Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common kind of forklift. This model is the sit-down, counterbalanced version. A weight situated in the machine's rear is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts will normally have lifting heights of roughly 16 feet, or 189 inches. In addition, these models are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come outfitted with backup alarms and various other kinds of safety features such as lights.
Around 60% percent are electric units and about 40% percent are internal combustion units. Every kind of forklift has a particular place and is suited to complete lots of different tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outside or indoors and what specific kinds of loads you will be using as well as what type of terrain and surfaces you would be operating on determines the kind of lift truck that you would choose.