Ever since their launch in the material handling business in the 1920s, forklifts have undergone a huge evolution. Nowadays, these high tech machines are much stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have changed the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our warehouse and distribution facilities all over the world.
Initially, during their launch about 100 years ago, lift trucks were very simple pieces of motorized machinery made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, extremely sophisticated units are available in the marketplace. These units are offered in different weight capacities, various designs and numerous lifting heights. In addition, these vehicles come with a variety of ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible can really add to the overall production attained during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features which are on the huge variety of lift trucks available nowadays are the tires which move the machine and the forks that are used to pick up loads. The basic design and application of different kinds of lift trucks used in distribution centers, warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities is covered in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Internal Combustion or IC units, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks consist of: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced kind of the lift truck. A weight situated in the rear of this machinery is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. 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. What's more, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts are offered with backup alarms and various other types of safety features like for instance lights.
Approximately 60% percent are electric units and approximately 40% percent are internal combustion models. Every kind of lift truck has a particular place and is ideal to complete many different jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the equipment outside or indoors and what specific kinds of loads you would be using as well as what kind of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on determines the type of lift truck that you will choose.