Lift trucks are utilized in warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main types: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking at the back of the machinery with manual-drive forklifts.
Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and comprise features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from turning over, several forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When selecting forklifts, important specifications to take into consideration 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 maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for lift trucks comprise their tire and type of fuel.
Different fuel options for forklifts comprise: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and gasoline. There are 2 basic kinds of tires used for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however provide great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For lift trucks, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts incorporate electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Usually, rider units may have either pneumatic or cushion 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 models offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either 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 cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Additionally, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They 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 internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, that are commonly used in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all employee carriers and burden carriers.