Lift trucks are used in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 basic types: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement 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 a lot of instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and consist of features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machine from tipping over, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models consist of safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when choosing forklifts 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 maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks comprise their fuel type and tire.
Different fuel options for lift trucks consist of: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic kinds of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand provide great load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These models provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include 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 cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Furthermore, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These machines will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to 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 IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, that are usually utilized in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.