Forklifts are used within warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 basic types: a manual drive, motorized drive and fork truck. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking at the rear of the machinery with manual-drive forklifts.
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 comfortable and safe. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and comprise features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machinery from tipping over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other models comprise safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or different kinds 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 supportable, maximum load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for lift trucks consist of their tire and fuel type.
Forklifts consist of various fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires and do not puncture. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
For forklifts, there are 7 classes. Class 1 lift trucks include electric-motor rider trucks, stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units. Typically, rider units can have either cushion or pneumatic wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These types of forklifts provide extra reach functions or swing mast.
Forklift Class III lift trucks include 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 seated controls and cabs. These types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Moreover, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are incorporated in Class V. These equipment will have seated controls and cabs, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV forklifts, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that 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 consist of rough terrain forklifts, that are normally used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and employee carriers.