Ever since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, lift trucks have undergone a huge evolution. Today, these high tech machines are a lot smarter and stronger. These kinds of machinery have revolutionized the material handling world and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our distribution and warehouse facilities all around the globe.
At first, during their launch around 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized machinery made to move pallet loads from one place to another. These days, really advanced units are available in the marketplace. These units are available in different weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and various designs. Furthermore, these types of machinery are offered with various ergonomic designs to improve driver comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible could really increase the overall productivity attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are forks and tires. Tires allow the equipment to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic application and design of different kinds of lift trucks used in warehousing operations, manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities is covered in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts include: Electric lift truck units as well as IC or Internal Combustion models.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced version 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.
Usually, a counterbalanced lift truck has a lifting height of around 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. In addition, these units are capable of lifting a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts are offered with backup alarms and other safety features like for example lights.
Roughly 60% percent are electric models and around 40% percent are IC units. Each type of lift truck has a particular place and is suited to accomplish a lot of various jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machinery outside or indoors and what particular types of loads you would be utilizing as well as what type of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on determines the kind of lift truck which you will select.