Lift trucks have gone through a major change ever since their introduction to the market during the 1920s. These machines are now a lot stronger and smarter. These kinds of machines have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all over the globe.
The first lift trucks about 100 years ago, began as very simple pieces of motorized equipment which were just capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. These days, extremely sophisticated models flood the marketplace. These units are offered in various weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. Moreover, these kinds of vehicles are available with a range of ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible can really increase the overall productivity accomplished during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features which are on the wide variety of forklifts available these days are the tires which move the machine and the forks that are utilized to pick up loads. The basic design and application of different types of lift trucks utilized in distribution facilities, warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Internal Combustion or IC models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks comprise Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common type of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced type of the forklift. A weight found in the machine's back is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. 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. As well, these units could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are offered with backup alarms and different other kinds of safety features like lights.
The lift truck market is presently divided into roughly 60% electric units, with 40% IC units. Each kind of forklift has a particular place and is ideal to accomplish many various tasks. Depending on whether or not you will be using the equipment outdoors or indoors and what kind of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on, as well as what particular types of cargo you will be using determines the kind of forklift that you will select.