Forklifts are used to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads in warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 basic kinds of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are complete with a motorized drive. In many instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another kind that are motorized and consist of features such as cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from turning over, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different kinds of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into consideration when selecting forklifts 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. Additional specifications for forklifts consist of their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts consist of various fuel options like: liquid propane or LPG, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major kinds of tires 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 in general. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include 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 seated controls and cabs. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Furthermore, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are commonly utilized in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all employee carriers and burden carriers.