Ever since their launch in the material handling business during the 1920s, lift trucks have undergone a huge evolution. Nowadays, these high tech machines are a lot stronger and smarter. These kinds of equipment have revolutionized the material handling world and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our distribution and warehouse facilities all around the globe.
Initially, during their introduction roughly 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized machinery made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, 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 kinds of machinery are available with various ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible could really increase the overall efficiency accomplished 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 equipment to move around and the forks could carry and lift loads. The basic application and design of various types of lift trucks utilized in warehousing applications, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Internal Combustion or IC units, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The forklift is the most common kind of forklift. This unit is the sit-down, counterbalanced kind. A weight located in the back of this equipment 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 approximately 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. In addition, these models are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come outfitted with backup alarms and various other types of safety features like for instance lights.
The lift truck market is currently divided into approximately 60% electric models, with 40% Internal Combustion units. Each type of forklift has a specific place and is best to accomplish a lot of different tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be using the equipment outside or indoors and what particular kinds of loads you will be using as well as what kind of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on determines the type of forklift which you will select.