Since their launch in the material handling business in the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge evolution. Today, these high tech machines are a lot stronger and smarter. They have revolutionized the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all around the globe.
The first forklifts roughly 100 years ago, started as really simple pieces of motorized equipment which were only capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. These days, extremely sophisticated models are available in the marketplace. These units are offered in various weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and various designs. In addition, these kinds of vehicles come with various ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible can really increase the overall productivity accomplished during a shift.
Among the only remaining universal features that are on the wide variety of forklifts available nowadays are the tires that move the equipment and the forks that are used to pick up loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of forklifts used in distribution facilities, warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities is included in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Internal Combustion or IC models, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of forklift is the sit-down counterbalanced kind of the lift truck. A weight situated in the equipment's back is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts would typically have lifting heights of about 16 feet, or 189 inches. As well, these units could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come equipped with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
The lift truck market is presently divided into approximately 60% electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Every kind of lift truck has a specific place and is suited to accomplish many various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outdoors or inside and what kind of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what specific kinds of cargo you would be utilizing determines the kind of forklift that you would select.