Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle as standard storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Nonetheless, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specialized lift truck models that are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without pivoting. The common types of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get near enough. These types of trucks work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.