Forklifts are utilized in manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 basic types: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In lots of instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different type that are motorized and consist of features like backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machine from tipping over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks consist of stroke and lift capacity. 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 comprise their tire and type of fuel.
Different fuel options for forklifts consist of: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand offer excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks include electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units can have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These kinds of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III forklifts are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Additionally, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, that are usually utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.