Forklifts are utilized within manufacturing, warehousing, mining, material handling and construction applications to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 basic types: 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 lift trucks 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 type that are motorized and consist of features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machinery from turning over, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models consist of safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different types of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into account comprise stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-lowered and the fully-raised lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks comprise their type of fuel and tire.
Forklifts include different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic kinds of tires utilized for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however provide excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Normally, rider units could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These models provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machinery will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Finally, Class VII lift trucks are the perfect option for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII forklifts include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.