Lift trucks are used to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads in manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 main types of forklifts: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machine 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 a different type which are motorized and include features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When selecting lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration comprise stroke and lift capacity. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-raised and the fully-lowered lift positions. Lift capacity is the supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for lift trucks comprise their tire and type of fuel.
Forklifts include different fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major types of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand provide great load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Usually, rider units can have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks 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. Additionally, this class uses solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These machines will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, which are commonly used in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts include all burden carriers and personnel carriers.