Lift trucks are used to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 basic kinds of forklifts: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In numerous instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind which are motorized and include features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machine from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, essential specifications to take into account include stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks comprise their tire and fuel type.
Different fuel options for forklifts comprise: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Cushion or solid tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires on the other hand 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 that are electric-motor rider trucks. Typically, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Moreover, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are usually utilized in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.