Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate within narrow aisles. Typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. However, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specialized lift truck models that are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without turning. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the first narrow-aisle lift truck to be developed for warehouse use. These small trucks can turn easily within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a huge counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get close enough. These types of trucks really work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, good flow of traffic and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design includes forks on the side that turn. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.