Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle as standard storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Nonetheless, narrow aisles could be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specialized lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without turning. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first kinds of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn with no trouble within narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the need for a huge counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.