Since their introduction in the material handling industry during the 1920s, forklifts have gone through a huge evolution. Today, these high tech machines are a lot smarter and stronger. These kinds of equipment have revolutionized the material handling arena and have become irreplaceable workhorses in our distribution and warehouse centres all around the globe.
Initially, during their introduction around 100 years ago, forklifts were really simple pieces of motorized machinery designed to move pallet loads from one place to another. These days, very advanced units flood the marketplace. These models are available in a huge variety of weight capacities, different designs and many lifting heights. Furthermore, these equipments are available with different ergonomic designs to enhance operator comfort and lots of new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible can greatly add to the overall production accomplished during a shift.
A key feature placed on the majority of the available lift trucks on the market are forks and tires. Tires enable the machine to move around and the forks could carry and lift loads. The basic design and application of various types of forklifts used in warehousing applications, manufacturing centers and distribution centers is included in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Lift Trucks comprise: Electric forklift models and IC or Internal Combustion models.
Narrow-Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Forklifts include: Order-Pickers, Turret Trucks and Reach Trucks.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks comprise Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks as well as Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the counterbalanced sit-down version of the forklift. A weight located in the equipment's rear is responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the load. The counterbalance is what prevents the forklift the truck from tipping over.
Typically, a counterbalanced lift truck has a lifting height of about 16 feet, 189 inches is the most popular. Furthermore, these units can lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come equipped with backup alarms and other safety features like lights.
Approximately 60% percent are electric models and around 40% percent are internal combustion models. Every kind of forklift has a particular place and is best to accomplish a lot of different tasks. Depending on whether or not you would be using the machinery outside or inside and what kind of surfaces and terrain you would be operating on, as well as what particular kinds of loads you would be utilizing determines the type of forklift which you would pick.