Forklifts are utilized to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 basic types of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machinery with manual-drive forklifts.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in lots of cases have a seat or protected cab in their design in order to keep the operator comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are another type that are motorized and comprise features like for example backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks include 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 forklifts include their type of fuel and tire.
Forklifts include various fuel options like: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires require less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer great load-cushioning and drive traction.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Normally, rider units may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts are either walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Moreover, this class uses solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These machines will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Finally, Class VII forklifts are the perfect choice for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and employee carriers.