Forklifts are used within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 basic kinds: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are complete 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 another kind that are motorized and consist of features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into consideration when choosing forklifts comprise 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. Other specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts include different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic 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 offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however offer excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These models provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are often counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. In addition, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These equipment would have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion 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 electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Finally, Class VII forklifts are the ideal option for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts include all employee carriers and burden carriers.