Ever since their launch in the material handling industry in the 1920s, lift trucks have gone through a huge change. Nowadays, these high tech machines are much stronger and smarter. These types of machinery have revolutionized the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our distribution and warehouse centres all over the world.
Initially, during their launch around 100 years ago, lift trucks were really simple pieces of motorized machines made to move pallet loads from one place to another. Today, really advanced units are offered in the marketplace. These units are offered in a wide array of weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and different designs. Additionally, these machines are available with various ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and a lot of new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfy as possible can greatly add to the overall production accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on most of the available lift trucks on the market are tires and forks. Tires enable the equipment to move around and the forks can carry and lift loads. The basic application and design of different types of lift trucks utilized in distribution centers, warehousing applications and manufacturing centers is covered in this article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks include: Electric forklift models as well as IC or Internal Combustion units.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
In this particular class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The lift truck is the most common type of forklift. This model is the sit-down, counterbalanced type. A weight located in the equipment's back is responsible for counterbalancing the load's weight. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Normally, a counterbalanced lift truck has a lifting height of roughly 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. What's more, these models can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are offered with backup alarms and different other types of safety features like for example lights.
The lift truck market is currently divided into about 60% electric models, with 40 percent Internal Combustion units. Every kind of forklift has a specific place and is best to complete a lot of various tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the equipment outdoors or indoors and what specific types of cargo you would be using as well as what type of terrain and surfaces you will be operating on determines the kind of lift truck that you will choose.