Ever since their introduction in the material handling business during the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge evolution. Today, these high tech machines are much smarter and stronger. These kinds of equipment have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse facilities all over the globe.
Initially, during their introduction about 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized machinery made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, very advanced models flood the marketplace. These units are available in various weight capacities, different designs and many lifting heights. Moreover, these machines come with various ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible could greatly increase the overall efficiency accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on nearly all of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires allow the equipment to move around and the forks can carry and lift loads. The basic design and application of various types of forklifts utilized in distribution centers, warehousing operations and manufacturing centers is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: IC or Internal Combustion models, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this particular class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common kind of lift truck. This unit is the sit-down, counterbalanced version. A weight situated in the equipment's back is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts would normally have lifting heights of roughly 16 feet, or 189 inches. As well, 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.
Around 60% percent are electric models and approximately 40% percent are internal combustion models. Each and every type of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to complete lots of various tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the machine outside or indoors and what kind of terrain and surfaces you would be operating on, as well as what particular kinds of cargo you would be utilizing determines the type of lift truck which you would select.