Since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, forklifts have gone through a huge change. These days, these high tech machines are a lot stronger and smarter. They have changed the material handling world and have become irreplaceable workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all over the world.
At first, during their launch roughly 100 years ago, lift trucks were very simple pieces of motorized machines made to transport pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, really sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are offered in various weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. Furthermore, these kinds of vehicles are available with various ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible can greatly add to the overall productivity attained during a shift.
Amongst the only remaining universal features that are on the huge array of lift trucks available these days are the tires that move the machinery and the forks which are used to raise loads. The basic design and application of various types of forklifts utilized in warehousing applications, manufacturing centers and distribution centers is included in this article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: Electric forklift units as well as Internal Combustion or IC models.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks consist of: Reach Trucks, Order Pickers and Turret Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this category, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced type of the forklift. A weight situated in the equipment's rear 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 approximately 16 feet, or 189 inches. Furthermore, these units can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are available with backup alarms and various other kinds of safety features like lights.
The forklift market is currently divided into around 60% electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Every kind of forklift has a specific place and is ideal to accomplish many various jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be utilizing the machinery outside or inside and what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what particular types of cargo you would be utilizing determines the type of forklift which you would pick.