Lift trucks are utilized to raise, engage and transport palletized loads within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 main kinds of lift trucks: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are complete with a motorized drive. In numerous instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and comprise features like backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when selecting forklifts 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. Additional specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts include various fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic kinds of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Typically, rider units may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle environments. These models provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are usually 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 utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are normally utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and employee carriers.