Counterbalance forklifts are basically lift trucks which are designed with counterweight at the rear of the machinery. The counterweight works to balance the weight which the tines are carrying at the front of the load. This design is engineered to stabilize traditional lift trucks. As far as electric counterbalance lift trucks are concerned, the counterweight is formed by the battery itself.
Counterbalance forklifts could often be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are normally manufactured in a variety of sizes and configurations, utilizing a variety of fuel sources. These forklifts can with solid or pneumatic tires, and be designed with 4 or 3 wheels. They are capable of working in various applications. These forklifts are outfitted with various types of accessories. Common options and attachments consist of: slip sheet attachments, fork shifts, side shifts and hydraulic clamps just to mention a few.
Counterbalance forklifts have changed the material handling business. They have become the cornerstone of storage and distribution systems where they perform stacking, loading, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The average warehouse lift trucks are usually used for lift heights under 20 feet or 6 meters. There have been some recently designed models that are capable of lifting to heights 9.5 meters or 31 feet. The smaller 4000 lbs. or 1-1.8 ton forklifts are the main workhorses in the majority of warehouses. These are the most common units that most small businesses would own. The typical warehouse counterbalance forklift is really a wide-aisle truck that requires about 3 meters or 11 feet to turn in.
Counterbalance forklifts are not necessarily confined to the warehouse. They are usually utilized for heavy use and container carrying along with pretty much every use in between. Counterbalance lift trucks are the most versatile and widely used of all materials handling machines.
The counterbalanced forklift is common in many working environments, like retail, warehousing and production. This is because of their versatility and durability. Some of the industrial use include: automotive, timber, food and chemical industries.