Forklifts are used in manufacturing, warehousing, construction, mining and material handling applications to lift, engage and transfer palletized loads. Forklifts have 3 basic types: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machine with manual-drive lift trucks.
The motorized forklift models come equipped with a motorized drive and in lots of cases have a seat or protected cab in their design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are a different type which are motorized and include features like cabs and backup alarms. In order to prevent the machine from tipping over, some lift trucks are counterbalanced. Other models include safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other types of hand rails.
When choosing forklifts, important specifications to take into account 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 lift trucks comprise their type of fuel and tire.
Forklifts comprise various fuel options such as: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic types of tires used for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance compared to pneumatic tires. The cushion or solid tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires on the other hand offer great load-cushioning and drive traction.
There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of forklifts, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units which are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and can have either cushion or pneumatic wheels. Class II lift trucks are electric motor units which are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle setting. These models offer extra swing mast or reach functions.
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 seated controls and cabs. These models are rider fork trucks with IC or internal combustion engines. Furthermore, this class has solid or cushion tires.
Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and internal combustion or IC engines. Like Class IV lift trucks, they are usually counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts that are designed for a sit-down rider. This class is supplied with IC or internal combustion or electric engines.
Class VII lift trucks are the last classification and consist of rough terrain lift trucks, which are normally utilized in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII forklifts consist of all burden carriers and personnel carriers.