Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn in the aisle since standard storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Then again, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could easily turn within narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get near enough. These kinds of trucks really work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough turning space and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side that turn. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then smoothly deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.