In today’s world, forklifts are the most durable and powerful vehicles for industrialists and builders. If you need to transfer your load from one warehouse or store to any other location, these vehicles can be used efficiently. They can lift the heavy load very safely which humans cannot which makes them usable and beneficial in every field. At present, automatic vehicles and autonomous forklift which doesn’t even require the driver to navigate the vehicle.
For the warehouse owners, there is a lot of difficulty in deciding which forklift product is suitable for their work. Also, because there is a very vast number of forklift available in the market, the decision is difficult.
So, here in this review, we have listed some of the types and classes of forklift which will be helpful for you in making the decision. The choice of a certain forklift should only depends on ob the kind of work you want.
Warehouse forklift
Warehouse forklift is a the very famous type of forklift available in the market. It is a yellow golf cart having two forks coming out from the front. Modern warehouses need these heavy loading and unloading forklift because the most effective and productive lift trucks are used in warehouses. This type of forklift mostly used in an inventory/ warehouse having large numbers of items. These forklifts are very suitable for pallet loading and also unloading. Also, from removing stuff and transporting stuff from one location to another.
Warehouse forklifts can lift weight of 5000 lbs but some expensive and heavy-duty forklifts can lift weight up to 25000 lbs. Popular and durable warehouse forklift are of companies, Hyster, Toyota, and komatsu.
Side loader
It is a subtype of warehouse forklift; they usually made up of steel and have facilities like heavy load lifting and bulky items. It has the facility of the driver/operator sitting in compartments and a side loader that loads and unloads objects. Its forks are mounted on the side of the forklift truck. Having the facility of sideway operation, these side forklift can easily reach through side racks and can unload objects without the need of turning. They are very suitable for less space environments to work. This feature makes it very suitable for narrow aisles and to handle bags of heavy materials. Some of the top brands which manufacture these types of forklifts are Yale, Hyundai, Toyota, and Raymond.
The 3 subtypes of side loaders are
- Enclosed cab – Which are most commonly used outdoors.
- Multi way – Have the feature of rotating its wheel by 90 degrees to move in all direction for transportation.
- Stand up – Suitable for indoor works.
Counterbalance forklift
These counterbalance forklifts are very similar to four-wheel forklift. It is a popular forklift having forks in the front side. The main advantage of this forklift is that it can provide better functionality and suitable for narrow aisles and places with less space.
These forklifts have no extending arms, which gives them capability to move forward and move the load directly. Some other types of counter balance forklifts are also available in the market.
It’s 3-wheel model is very suitable which requires the driver to turn and move in circles. Another type, stand up counterbalance can allow easily to stack on and off load. Some manufacturers who are manufacturing counterbalance forklift are Crown, Toyota and Mitsubishi.
Industrial Forklift
The industrial forklift, second name large capacity forklift – which have the combined features of both warehouse and a telehandler. The drawback is that it cannot reach different angles unlike a telehandler is capable of, but it is able to lift loads much higher than the surface than a telehandler and warehouse can do. The maximum lift of an industrial forklift is 30000 pounds, but this power only required in highly specialized power. The use of industrial forklift is narrowed down in scope.
The big names for the manufacturers of industrial forklifts are Mitsubishi, Nacco and some other popular models who their model’s capacity up to 36000 lbs.
Rough Terrain Forklift
This type of forklift is the ideal for any outdoor work and especially designed for job sites, and on uneven surfaces having features with tyres with thicker threads. They have strong tyres which helps them to identify the rocky surface. They have very oversized tyres. Along the tyres, there comes a very powerful engine, which states the forklift is very tough and durable for many years.
This forklift is only suitable for outdoor where you have to transport big and heavy objects from one location to another. If your all work is in indoors, then you do not need this product.
In order to operate this type of forklift, the operator must have a license of risk work. This machine has the features of counterbalancing at the rear, which makes it able to transport heavy load without the factor of worrying about balancing weights.
The models like JCB 950 and CASE 588H are four-wheel drive options. Another big feature of this type is that big models easily lifted having the capacity of 6000 to 8000 pounds
Telehandler
Also known as a telescopic forklift, the very reliable choice for working agricultural areas or any other industry where there is a need of high lifting. It has an extendable arm and a boom, which makes a combination of forklift and a crane. Twin forks usually on the front used to transfer pallets on the ground. These machines are very ideal for reaching to odd angles and into tight spaces.
They are very easy to use because they have a single telescopic boom, which makes this machine very flexible and excellent. They do have an arrangement of booms that can be attached. Telehandlers are very suitable if you have a long height and requires a long lift for the object.
Some manufacturers and workers on site might require other specifications to work with telehandlers. A normal telehandler is capable of lifting 5500 pounds of objects to a total of nineteen feet height.
Otherwise, if it is supposed to be used as an attachment and used as a crane, then there is a need of a non-slew license. There is a requirement of a high-risk license if operator is working with a basket and can reach to a height of 11 meters or more. Due to their immense popularity in market, many manufacturers have decided to manufacture it. These dealers are Genie, Haulotte, JCB, and many other companies who prepare this type of telehandler.
Reach Fork Truck
It is a truck that can use for indoor operations, its main ability is to extend its fork away from the compartment and to reach the compartments that are not in range of normal forklift. They are of best use to industrial or warehouse uses. Their extended height of lifting generally means that you can have access to pallets or objects at s certain height. This is perfect for a store with a huge selection of stock. Some of the high quality manufacturers of reach forklifts are UniCarriers, Yale and Clark.
An open compartment feature can allow you to have much more visibility. It is excellent for indoor use, and reach trucks are not suitable for uses of outdoor because of its under-carriage clearance.
Two most common types of reach forklifts are
1. Stand up
2. Double up
Stand up forklifts used at the places where there is need of one load per bay but on the other hand, double up forklifts used because hey have long forks which makes them best for many pallet loads. Also, they can reach to back of bay.
A license of high risk is mandatory for the person operating this forklift.
Classification of forklifts
1.Electric Motor Rider Trucks
These types of trucks are basically used for indoor purposes due to their cushion tyres. Pneumatic tyres are also available that can be used on a rough and outdoor surfaces.
As the name encounters, they powered by a heavy electric motor to perform the operations. Due to this source, they are more likely to produce no noise and emissions. Mostly comes in 3 wheels but due to advancements, 4 wheels are also available in the market. These are useful as it saves fuel and maintenance cost.
Best for use in tight and narrow spaces. It has the capacity to lift a weight of 3,000 to 8,000 lbs. The basic example is counterbalance trucks.
2. Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks
These are specially designed to operate in narrow or tight spaces for picking and placing storage items, especially in inventory. They occupy very little space with both stand up and sit-down units. This type includes lifts like side loaders, reach trucks.
3. Electric Motor Hand or Hand-Rider Trucks
Hand Rider trucks are small in size and has less capability to lift items to high places. The design’s main focus is loading and unloading the items to only few inches from the ground. Available in both walkies and riders. The operator controls the truck through the steering tiller. Best for use in small warehouses and firms like food and beverage. These are Battery operated machines and has the capacity to uplift 8000 lbs. Common examples are walkies, pallet jacks or stackers.
4. Internal Combustion Engine Trucks—Cushion Tyres
The main source of power is fuel, diesel, or gas. Due to their cushion tyres they are best for use in indoor smooth surface and not filled with air that’s why there is less chance for tyres to get punctured. Only comes with sit down unit and best for use in retail, distribution and other low clearance conditions. General eight capacity is 3,000 to 15,000 lbs while some powerful trucks can lift up to 80,000 lbs. The benefit of using IC engines over electric trucks is that they produce lower acquisition costs and lower downtime for recharging.
5. Internal Combustion Engine Trucks—Pneumatic Tires
Internal combustion engine trucks also come up with pneumatic tyres to work on the rough, rocky, or outdoor surfaces with the lift capacity of up to 55,000 lbs. They are more popular to use in warehouses of all sizes.
6. Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors
The main use of this type of forklift is on airports or assemble lines, where the task is to pull objects from one position to another rather than lifting. Sometimes named as tugger and are available with both electric and IC engines.
7. Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks
These are one of the giant forklifts with large tractor-style floatation tyres mainly used in rough and challenging environments like construction sites or lumber yards. The main power source is diesel and comes with both two- or four-wheels option. Additionally, it includes large telescoping mast to offer greater reach.
Uses of Forklifts:
- Forklifts are useful in construction sites to shift or lift building material.
- For loading and unloading goods in warehouses.
- working as Snow Plow.
- They can also be used to transport people with specific safety precautions.
- Old forklifts can be used as a training tool for new forklift drivers as proper training is very important in order to operate such machines.
- Helpful to lift cars, ships, and other vehicles.
- For raising and shifting items over long distances.
- Heavy pipes, timbers, trees lifting
- Used as piece picking elevator for different warehouses applications.
Bottom line
All above-mentioned types of forklifts have their own features and specifications if you want get information about any type of forklift truck don’t worry carryup is always here to reply to your queries