Ever since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge evolution. Nowadays, these machines are a lot stronger and smarter. These kinds of machines have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our warehouse and distribution centres all over the world.
At first, during their introduction roughly 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized machines made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, extremely sophisticated units are available in the marketplace. These models are offered in different weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and different designs. In addition, these machines come with various ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and many new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible can greatly increase the overall production attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires enable the machinery to move around and the forks can carry and lift loads. The basic design and application of various kinds of lift trucks utilized in distribution facilities, warehousing applications and manufacturing centers is covered in this particular article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Internal Combustion or IC models, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts consist of: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
In this class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The forklift is the most common kind of lift truck. This model is the sit-down, counterbalanced kind. A weight situated 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.
Counterbalanced forklifts will normally have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. Also, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come outfitted with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
About 60% percent are electric models and around 40% percent are internal combustion models. Each kind of forklift has a specific place and is best to accomplish many various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machine outside or indoors and what specific types of cargo you will be utilizing as well as what kind of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on determines the type of lift truck which you would choose.