Forklifts are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to lift, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main types: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are equipped with a motorized drive. In many instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different kind that are motorized and consist of features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from tipping over, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models comprise safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into account when selecting lift trucks consist of lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for forklifts consist of their type of fuel and tire.
Different fuel options for forklifts consist of: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major kinds of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of 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 internal combustion or IC engines. Furthermore, this class utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machinery will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Lastly, Class VII lift trucks are the ideal choice for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and employee carriers.