Forklifts have undergone a major change ever since their launch to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now a lot smarter and stronger. They have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our warehouse and distribution facilities all over the globe.
The initial forklifts approximately 100 years ago, started as very simple pieces of motorized machines which were just capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are available in different weight capacities, different designs and many lifting heights. In addition, these vehicles are available with a range of ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible can really add to the overall production attained during a shift.
Among the only remaining universal features which are on the wide variety of forklifts available these days are the tires which move the machinery and the forks which are used to raise loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of lift trucks utilized in manufacturing centers, distribution facilities and warehousing operations is covered in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Internal Combustion or IC models, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common kind of lift truck. This unit is the counterbalanced, sit-down version. A weight situated in the equipment's back is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Normally, a counterbalanced forklift has a lifting height of approximately 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Additionally, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come equipped with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
The lift truck market is now divided into approximately 60 percent electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Each and every kind of forklift has a specific place and is ideal to accomplish many different jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machine outdoors or indoors and what kind of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what particular types of cargo you would be utilizing determines the kind of lift truck that you would pick.