Forklifts have undergone a major change ever since their launch to the market in the 1920s. These machines are now a lot stronger and smarter. They have changed the material handling world and have become exceptional workhorses within our warehouse and distribution facilities all over the globe.
The initial forklifts roughly 100 years ago, started as really simple pieces of motorized machinery which were just capable of moving pallet loads from one place to another. Nowadays, very sophisticated units flood the marketplace. These models are available in various weight capacities, various designs and many lifting heights. Moreover, these vehicles come with various ergonomic designs to improve operator comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the operator as comfortable as possible can really increase the overall production accomplished during a shift.
Among the only remaining universal features that are on the wide variety of forklifts available these days are the tires that move the machinery and the forks which are used to pick up loads. The basic design and application of different types of forklifts utilized in manufacturing facilities, distribution facilities and warehousing applications is included in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: Internal Combustion or IC models, and Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks include: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Jacks or Pallet Trucks
In this class, Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks are included, as are Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced kind of the lift truck. A weight located in the rear 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 lift trucks will usually have lifting heights of about 16 feet, or 189 inches. Furthermore, these units can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks are offered with backup alarms and various other types of safety features like lights.
The forklift market is currently divided into around 60 percent electric models, with 40% IC units. Every kind of forklift has a specific place and is ideal to complete lots of different jobs. Depending on whether or not you would be utilizing the machine outdoors or inside and what particular kinds of cargo you would be utilizing as well as what kind of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on determines the type of forklift that you will pick.