Forklifts are utilized to lift, engage and transport palletized loads within manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 main types of forklifts: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In lots of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and include features like for instance backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from tipping over, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into consideration when selecting forklifts include 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. Other specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts comprise different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic kinds of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however offer great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Normally, rider units may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III forklifts 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 types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Moreover, this class utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, which are usually used in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.