Forklifts are used to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 basic types of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and comprise features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from tipping over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when choosing forklifts consist of 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 lift trucks consist of their tire and fuel type.
Different fuel options for lift trucks comprise: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic types of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand provide excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
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. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
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 normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Furthermore, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These equipment will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks 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 consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are normally utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all employee carriers and burden carriers.