Ever since their launch in the material handling business during the 1920s, lift trucks have undergone a huge evolution. These days, these high tech machines are much stronger and smarter. These kinds of machinery have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our warehouse and distribution centres all around the globe.
The first forklifts approximately 100 years ago, started as very simple pieces of motorized equipment which were only capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are offered in different weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. Additionally, these machinery come with different ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the operator 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 range of lift trucks available these days are the tires which move the equipment and the forks which are used to raise loads. The basic design and application of different kinds of lift trucks used in distribution centers, warehousing operations and manufacturing centers is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: Internal Combustion or IC models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks comprise: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common type of forklift. This model is the counterbalanced, sit-down version. A weight located in the machine's rear is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Usually, a counterbalanced lift truck has a lifting height of about 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. What's more, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come outfitted with backup alarms and other safety features like for instance lights.
The forklift market is presently divided into approximately 60% electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Every kind of lift truck has a particular place and is suited to accomplish lots of various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the machine outdoors or indoors and what kind of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on, as well as what particular kinds of cargo you would be utilizing determines the type of lift truck that you would select.