Forklifts are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In lots of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from overturning, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or different types of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into account include lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-lowered and the fully-raised lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts consist of different fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic kinds of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Typically, rider units may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These kinds of forklifts offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Additionally, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Class V lift trucks are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Finally, Class VII lift trucks are the ideal choice for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and employee carriers.