Ever since their introduction in the material handling business during the 1920s, forklifts have gone through a huge evolution. These days, these high tech machines are a lot stronger and smarter. These types of equipment have changed the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our distribution and warehouse facilities all around the world.
The initial lift trucks roughly 100 years ago, started as very simple pieces of motorized equipment which were just capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Today, extremely advanced models flood the marketplace. These units are available in different weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and different designs. Moreover, these types of vehicles are available with various ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfortable as possible could greatly add to the overall productivity attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires allow the machine to move around and the forks can lift and carry loads. The basic application and design of different types of lift trucks utilized in warehousing operations, manufacturing centers and distribution centers is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts comprise: Electric lift truck models and Internal Combustion or IC models.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common type of lift truck. This model is the counterbalanced, sit-down type. A weight found in the rear of this equipment is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts will typically have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. In addition, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts are available with backup alarms and different other types of safety features like lights.
Roughly 60% percent are electric models and approximately 40% percent are IC units. Each and every type of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to complete many various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machinery outside or indoors and what type of terrain and surfaces you would be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of loads you will be utilizing determines the type of forklift which you will choose.