Forklifts are utilized within warehousing, manufacturing, mining, material handling and construction applications to lift, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 basic kinds: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machinery 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 comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different kind that are motorized and include features like for instance cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from tipping over, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When choosing lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration 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. Additional specifications for forklifts comprise their tire and fuel type.
Different fuel options for forklifts comprise: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major types of tires used for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however provide excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. 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 could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. In addition, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These equipment will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion 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 internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, which are usually used in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.