Forklifts have gone through a major change ever since their launch to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now much smarter and stronger. They have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all around the globe.
The initial lift trucks approximately 100 years ago, started as really simple pieces of motorized machinery that were just capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are available in different weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. Additionally, these types of machinery come with various ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible can greatly add to the overall productivity attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on nearly all of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires enable the machinery to move around and the forks could carry and lift loads. The basic application and design of various types of forklifts used in warehousing applications, manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: Internal Combustion or IC units, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts consist of: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common type of forklift. This unit is the counterbalanced, sit-down version. A weight found 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.
Normally, a counterbalanced lift truck has a lifting height of around 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Also, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come equipped with backup alarms and other safety features like for example lights.
The lift truck market is now divided into about 60 percent electric models, with 40% IC units. Every type of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to accomplish lots of various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be utilizing the machinery outside or indoors and what specific kinds of cargo you would be utilizing as well as what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on determines the kind of forklift which you will pick.