Lift trucks are used in manufacturing, warehousing, mining, material handling and construction applications to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in numerous cases have a protected cab or seat in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and include features such as backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from overturning, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like for instance a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into account when selecting forklifts include 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 fuel type and tire.
Forklifts comprise various fuel options such as: liquid propane or LPG, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires used for operating fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however offer great drive traction and load-cushioning.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 forklifts incorporate 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 lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These kinds of forklifts offer extra reach functions or swing mast.
Class III forklifts are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. High lift models and automated pallet lift trucks are usually counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. In addition, this class uses cushion or solid tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are normally counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are usually utilized in logging, agricultural and construction applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and employee carriers.