Lift trucks are utilized in warehousing, manufacturing, mining, material handling and construction applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the equipment with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are complete with a motorized drive. In numerous instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and comprise features like for example backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from tipping over, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different types of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration include lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for forklifts include their tire and fuel type.
Different fuel options for forklifts consist of: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major kinds of tires used for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These kinds of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. In addition, this class utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are normally used in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and employee carriers.