Narrow Aisle Forklifts
Several forklifts are particularly made to fit down very narrow aisles in a warehouse. These models are referred to as narrow aisle forklifts. They can negotiate smaller aisles easily and enable you to enjoy some benefits. Like for example, the increased amount of space to keep stuff can greatly increase a company's overall available stock.
Narrow aisle forklifts are able to maneuver easily too. These machinery have been specifically engineered to move without a lot of space. Their different design has eliminated a lot of the items which are squished up into the main body of the traditional lift truck design.
The disadvantage of narrow aisle lift trucks is that they are very slow in comparison to standard lift trucks. Narrow aisle forklifts will not work if you need to transport things across long distances. When it comes to speed they would not be a reliable choice. If you also have a standard forklift, this would not be an issue. You could just use the narrow aisle forklift to transport the load to a central site and then hand it off to a regular lift truck that could travel the bulk of the distance in an efficient and timely method. Frequently, narrow aisle lift trucks cannot handle as much lifting weight; therefore, outside of smaller loads they are not going to be really useful.
Electric Lift Trucks
For indoor use such as stores or inside warehouses, conventional gas lift trucks are not a suitable alternative. They will not be as safe due to their fumes, or as useful or cost-efficient compared to an electric powered model. Electric lift trucks are usually engineered to function and look a lot like gas ones, but they utilize electric batteries which must be recharged, rather than gasoline fuel.
The electrically powered lift truck has become more popular and for a range of reasons. These machinery could help companies save costs on fuel. Electric models would initially cost more, but will ultimately save you more over time. Like for instance, when gas prices go up, you will save a lot of cash since you would not be affected. Electric models tend to last quite a bit longer than gas powered units too. This is partially because of the fact they are mainly utilized indoors and therefore don't get as dirty or work in as harsh environments as the gas powered models. Electric units are healthier to use in poorly ventilated places like indoor operations and warehouses as they don't emit noxious fumes. It could be extremely dangerous to utilize diesel or gas forklifts inside.
The electric forklift does have some disadvantages like the fact that they can really just work for approximately 8 hours. Afterward the machine will have to be charged for 8 hours and rested for another 8 hours. Lots of businesses get around this situation by buying a spare battery so they could have less downtime and continually cycle them. There are fast charge batteries available on the market which are also reducing the charging time.