Lift trucks have undergone a major change ever since their introduction to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now much stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses in our distribution and warehouse facilities all over the globe.
The first lift trucks roughly 100 years ago, began as really simple pieces of motorized machinery which were just capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really sophisticated models flood the marketplace. These units are offered in a huge variety of weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and different designs. In addition, these kinds of machinery are offered with different ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfortable as possible can greatly increase the overall efficiency accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on most of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires allow the machine to move around and the forks can carry and lift loads. The basic application and design of different kinds of forklifts utilized in warehousing operations, manufacturing centers and distribution facilities is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: Electric lift truck models and Internal Combustion or IC units.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts consist of: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The forklift is the most common type of lift truck. This unit is the counterbalanced, sit-down type. A weight found in the equipment's back is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Normally, a counterbalanced forklift has a lifting height of approximately 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Also, these units could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are offered with backup alarms and other safety features like for instance lights.
Roughly 60% percent are electric models and roughly 40% percent are IC units. Every type of lift truck has a particular place and is suited to complete many different tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be utilizing the machinery outside or indoors and what specific types of cargo you will be utilizing as well as what type of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on determines the type of forklift that you will pick.