Forklifts are used in manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 main kinds: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come complete with a motorized drive and in a lot of cases have a protected cab or seat in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different kind that are motorized and comprise features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the equipment from turning over, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models consist of safety rails, a rotating element such as a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Essential 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 maximum, supportable load or forcforce or load. Additional specifications for lift trucks consist of their fuel type and tire.
Different fuel options for forklifts include: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires utilized for operating forklifts and fork trucks: pneumatic and solid. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and need less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do provide less shock absorption in general. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however provide excellent drive traction and load-cushioning.
There are 7 classes of lift trucks. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Typically, rider units can have either pneumatic or cushion wheels and are counterbalanced. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are used for order picking or stock applications in narrow aisle environments. These models 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 normally counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have cabs and seated controls. These models are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class has cushion or solid tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with electric or IC or internal combustion engines.
Class VII forklifts are the last classification and include rough terrain lift trucks, which are normally used in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.