Forklifts are utilized to lift, engage and transport palletized loads within manufacturing, warehousing, material handling, mining and construction applications. There are 3 basic types of forklifts: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The load movement or travel is powered manually or by walking behind the equipment with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come complete with a motorized drive and in a lot of cases have a seat or protected cab in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type which are motorized and comprise features like backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the machine from tipping over, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like for example a turntable or different types of hand rails.
Important specifications to take into consideration when selecting forklifts comprise stroke and lift capacity. 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. Other specifications for forklifts consist of their tire and type of fuel.
Different fuel options for lift trucks consist of: LP or liquid propane, CNG or compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 major kinds of tires for operating fork trucks and forklifts: solid and pneumatic. Cushion or solid tires do not puncture and need less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do provide less shock absorption overall. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires however provide excellent load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units that are utilized for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These models offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
Class III lift trucks are either standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV lift trucks have seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. In addition, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Rider fork Trucks are included in Class V. These equipment will have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Similar to Class IV forklifts, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI lift trucks 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 lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain forklifts, that are usually used in agricultural, construction and logging applications. Class VII lift trucks include all employee carriers and burden carriers.