Ever since their introduction in the material handling industry in the 1920s, forklifts have gone through a huge evolution. These days, these machines are a lot stronger and smarter. These kinds of equipment have changed the material handling arena and have become exceptional workhorses within our warehouse and distribution centres all around the globe.
The initial forklifts approximately 100 years ago, began as really simple pieces of motorized equipment that were just capable of transporting pallet loads from one place to another. These days, very advanced units flood the marketplace. These models are available in a huge range of weight capacities, numerous lifting heights and various designs. Additionally, these equipments come with different ergonomic designs to enhance driver comfort and numerous new safety features. Keeping the driver as comfy as possible could really increase 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 could carry and lift loads. The basic application and design of various kinds of forklifts used in manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and warehousing applications is covered in this specific article.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
Counterbalanced Forklifts consist of: IC or Internal Combustion units, as well as Electric Trucks.
Narrow-Aisle Forklifts
Narrow Aisle Forklifts comprise: Turret Trucks, Reach Trucks and Order-Pickers.
Low Lift Pallet Trucks or Pallet Jacks
Pallets Jacks consist of Electric-Powered Pallet Trucks and Non-Powered Pallet Trucks.
Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks
The most common kind of lift truck is the sit-down counterbalanced kind of the forklift. A weight found 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 forklifts would typically have lifting heights of around 16 feet, or 189 inches. What's more, these models could lift a range between 4,000 to 6,500 pounds. Counterbalanced lift trucks come outfitted with backup alarms and various other types of safety features like for instance lights.
Approximately 60% percent are electric units and about 40% percent are IC models. Each and every type of lift truck has a specific place and is suited to accomplish a lot of different jobs. Depending on whether or not you will be using the machine outside or inside and what kind of surfaces and terrain you will be operating on, as well as what particular kinds of cargo you will be utilizing determines the type of forklift which you would select.