Forklifts are used to raise, engage and transport palletized loads within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 main kinds of lift trucks: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are equipped 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 another type which are motorized and consist of features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machine from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models comprise safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when choosing forklifts comprise lift capacity and stroke. 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. Additional specifications for lift trucks comprise their tire and type of fuel.
Different fuel options for forklifts comprise: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires 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 solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however offer great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These models offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts 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 internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class utilizes cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are commonly used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.