Lift trucks are used to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads within manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, construction and mining applications. There are 3 main kinds of forklifts: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model lift trucks are complete with a motorized drive. In many instances, a seat or protected cab is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and include features like for instance backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the vehicle from overturning, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other kinds of forklifts comprise safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or other types of hand rails.
Essential specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks consist of lift capacity and stroke. Stroke is defined as the difference between the fully-lowered and the fully-raised lift positions. Lift capacity is the maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Other specifications for forklifts include their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts comprise different fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 major types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide great load-cushioning and drive traction.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts include electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Normally, rider units may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts provide extra swing mast or reach functions.
Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of walk-behind or standing-rider operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class uses cushion or solid 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 lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with internal combustion or IC or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, that are usually used in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts include all personnel carriers and burden carriers.