Ever since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, forklifts have gone through a huge evolution. Nowadays, these machines are a lot stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all around the world.
Initially, during their introduction approximately 100 years ago, forklifts were very simple pieces of motorized machines designed to move pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, very advanced units flood the marketplace. These units are available in a huge array of weight capacities, different designs and numerous lifting heights. Furthermore, these types of vehicles are offered with different ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible could really increase the overall production 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 could lift and carry loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of lift trucks utilized in warehousing operations, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks consist of: Electric lift truck units and IC or Internal Combustion units.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the counterbalanced sit-down type of the lift truck. A weight situated in the rear of this machinery is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks would normally have lifting heights of roughly 16 feet, or 189 inches. Also, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come equipped with backup alarms and various other types of safety features such as lights.
The lift truck market is presently divided into approximately 60% electric models, with 40% Internal Combustion units. Each and every kind of lift truck has a specific place and is suited to complete lots of different tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machine outdoors or indoors and what type of terrain and surfaces you would be operating on, as well as what specific types of loads you will be using determines the type of forklift which you would pick.