Lift trucks have undergone a major change since their launch to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now much stronger and smarter. These types of machines have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses in our distribution and warehouse centres all around the globe.
At first, during their introduction about 100 years ago, lift trucks were very simple pieces of motorized equipment designed to transport pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are available in a wide array of weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. Additionally, these kinds of machines come with different ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible can greatly increase the overall productivity attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on most of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires allow the machinery to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic design and application of different types of forklifts used in manufacturing centers, distribution centers and warehousing applications is covered in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Internal Combustion or IC models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks consist of: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this category, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of forklift is the sit-down counterbalanced type of the forklift. A weight situated in the rear of this machine is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts would usually have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. What's more, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts are offered with backup alarms and other safety features such as lights.
The lift truck market is now divided into approximately 60 percent electric models, with 40% Internal Combustion units. Each and every kind of lift truck has a specific place and is best to accomplish many various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machinery outdoors or inside and what type of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of cargo you would be using determines the type of forklift which you will pick.