Lift trucks are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, mining, material handling and construction applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 basic types: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the back of the equipment with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are complete with a motorized drive. In lots of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and comprise features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from turning over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks consist of stroke and lift capacity. 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 lift trucks include their tire and type of fuel.
Different fuel options for lift trucks comprise: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major types of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however offer 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 that are electric-motor rider trucks. Typically, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III lift trucks are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Additionally, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machinery will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are usually 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 forklifts are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, that are usually utilized in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.