Forklifts are utilized to lift, engage and transport palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 main types of lift trucks: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and comprise features like for instance cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from overturning, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other types 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 maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts consist of various fuel options such as: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic types of tires utilized for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind 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 types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class uses solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment would have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are commonly utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all personnel carriers and burden carriers.