Forklifts are utilized to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads within manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 basic types of forklifts: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are equipped with a motorized drive. In lots of instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machine from overturning, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models comprise safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or different types of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, essential specifications to take into account 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 supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for forklifts consist of their fuel type and tire.
Forklifts consist of various fuel options such as: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic kinds of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units can have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These models provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are often counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Furthermore, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included 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 normally counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This 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, that are normally utilized in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks include all burden carriers and employee carriers.