Lift trucks are utilized in warehousing, manufacturing, construction, mining and material handling applications to lift, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main types: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in many cases have a seat or protected cab in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machine from turning over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into consideration when choosing lift trucks comprise lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts consist of different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major types of tires used for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units can have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. In addition, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These equipment will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, which are usually used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.