Ever since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge change. These days, these machines are much stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse facilities all around the globe.
Initially, during their launch roughly 100 years ago, forklifts were very simple pieces of motorized machines made to transport pallet loads from one place to another. Today, very advanced units flood the marketplace. These units are offered in a wide array of weight capacities, different designs and numerous lifting heights. In addition, these machines are offered with a variety of ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible could greatly add to the overall production attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are forks and tires. Tires enable the machinery to move around and the forks could carry and lift loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of lift trucks used in manufacturing centers, distribution centers and warehousing applications is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: IC or Internal Combustion models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks comprise: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks comprise Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of forklift is the counterbalanced sit-down kind of the forklift. A weight located in the machine's back is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks will normally have lifting heights of about 16 feet, or 189 inches. What's more, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come equipped with backup alarms and different other kinds of safety features such as lights.
The lift truck market is now divided into approximately 60% electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Every type of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to accomplish many different tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the equipment outside or inside and what type of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of loads you will be utilizing determines the kind of forklift which you would pick.