Forklifts are utilized to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads within manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 main types of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the equipment with manual-drive forklifts.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in a lot of cases have a seat or protected cab in their design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another type that are motorized and comprise features such as cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models consist of safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into consideration when choosing lift trucks include lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for forklifts include their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts comprise different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic kinds of tires utilized for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires need less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer great load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These kinds of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. In addition, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines would have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Finally, Class VII forklifts are the ideal option for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.