Since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, forklifts have undergone a huge evolution. Nowadays, these high tech machines are 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.
At first, during their introduction approximately 100 years ago, forklifts were very simple pieces of motorized machinery made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, very sophisticated models are offered in the marketplace. These units are available in different weight capacities, many lifting heights and different designs. Moreover, these equipments come with different ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible can greatly add to the overall production accomplished during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features that are on the huge range of forklifts available today are the tires which move the machine and the forks which are used to raise loads. The basic design and application of various types of lift trucks used in warehousing operations, manufacturing centers and distribution centers is included in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts comprise: 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 Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the counterbalanced sit-down version of the lift truck. A weight situated 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 normally have lifting heights of approximately 16 feet, or 189 inches. Furthermore, these models are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are offered with backup alarms and other safety features such as lights.
The forklift market is presently divided into roughly 60% electric models, with 40% IC units. Each and every type of lift truck has a particular place and is ideal to accomplish lots of various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machinery outdoors or indoors and what specific kinds of cargo you will be using as well as what kind of terrain and surfaces you would be operating on determines the kind of lift truck which you will pick.