Forklifts are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling 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 behind the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
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 safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and comprise features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the vehicle from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when selecting lift trucks include lift capacity and stroke. 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. Additional specifications for forklifts comprise their type of fuel and tire.
Different fuel options for lift trucks include: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major kinds of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. In addition, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Class V lift trucks are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, which are normally utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all employee carriers and burden carriers.