Since their launch in the material handling business in the 1920s, lift trucks have undergone a huge evolution. These days, these machines are much stronger and smarter. They have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses in our distribution and warehouse facilities all over the world.
The initial lift trucks about 100 years ago, began as very simple pieces of motorized equipment which were just capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, very sophisticated models are offered in the marketplace. These units are offered in different weight capacities, many lifting heights and various designs. Moreover, these kinds of machinery come with various ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible could really increase the overall production attained during a shift.
A key feature placed on most of the available lift trucks on the market are forks and tires. Tires enable the machinery to move around and the forks could lift and carry loads. The basic application and design of different kinds of lift trucks utilized in distribution facilities, warehousing operations and manufacturing centers is included in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks comprise: Internal Combustion or IC models, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks include Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common kind of lift truck. This model is the sit-down, counterbalanced kind. A weight located in the back of this equipment is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Counterbalanced forklifts will typically have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. Furthermore, these units can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced forklifts come equipped with backup alarms and different other types of safety features like lights.
The lift truck market is currently divided into around 60% electric units, with 40 percent IC units. Each and every type of lift truck has a specific place and is best to accomplish many various jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the machinery outside or inside and what type of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what particular kinds of cargo you would be using determines the type of forklift that you would pick.