Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks designed to function in narrow aisles. Typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. Nevertheless, narrow aisles could be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specialized kinds of lift trucks which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn with no trouble in narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms can hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get near enough. These types of trucks truly work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, enough turning space and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side which pivot. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.