Forklifts have gone through a major change since their launch to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now a lot smarter and stronger. These types of equipment have revolutionized the material handling world and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our warehouse and distribution facilities all around the world.
The first forklifts around 100 years ago, started as very simple pieces of motorized machinery that were only capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Today, very sophisticated units are offered in the marketplace. These units are offered in various weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. Additionally, these types of vehicles come with various ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible can really add to the overall productivity accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are forks and tires. Tires allow the equipment to move around and the forks can carry and lift loads. The basic design and application of various types of lift trucks used in warehousing applications, manufacturing centers and distribution centers is covered in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts comprise: IC or Internal Combustion models, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of lift truck is the counterbalanced sit-down kind of the forklift. A weight found in the back of this machinery is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced lift trucks will typically have lifting heights of approximately 16 feet, or 189 inches. What's more, these models are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come outfitted with backup alarms and other safety features such as lights.
The forklift market is presently divided into roughly 60 percent electric models, with 40 percent IC units. Each and every type of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to complete many various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outside or indoors and what type of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on, as well as what specific types of cargo you would be utilizing determines the type of lift truck that you will pick.