Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks designed to operate in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle because typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. However, narrow aisles can be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific types of lift trucks that are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The common types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the need for a large counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, ample space for turning and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design consists of forks on the side that pivot. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When it stops at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.