Forklifts are used within warehousing, manufacturing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transfer palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a fork truck, manual drive and motorized drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive forklifts.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in many cases have a protected cab or seat in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type that are motorized and consist of features like for instance cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from turning over, several lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts consist of safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or other kinds of hand rails.
When choosing lift trucks, important specifications to take into consideration include 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 consist of their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts consist of different fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major types of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption overall. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however offer excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks include electric-motor rider trucks, seated or stand-up 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units are counterbalanced and could have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts 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 normally counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have cabs and seated controls. These kinds of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Additionally, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These equipment would have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain forklifts, which are commonly used in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks include all employee carriers and burden carriers.