Forklifts
Forklifts are utilized to transfer, lift and engage palletized loads in material handling, construction, warehousing and manufacturing applications. With manual-drive forklifts, the travel or load movement is either powered manually or walk-behind. Motorized drive forklifts have a motorized drive. In numerous types of forklifts, the forklift has a protected seat or cab for the operator. Fork trucks have features like backup alarms, and cabs and are additionally motorized. Several types of forklifts are counterbalanced so as to prevent the vehicle from turning over. Other models come equipped with safety rails, or a rotating element like for instance a hand rail or a turntable.
The stroke and lift capacity are other specification which you must take into consideration when choosing a type of forklift. Lift capacity is defined as the maximum, supportable load or force. Stroke is defined as the difference between fully raised and fully lowered lift positions.
Some of the other vital specifications for the forklift are fuel type and tire type. The available fuel choices are: natural gas, liquid propane or LP, electricity, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel or gasoline.
There are two basic types of tires for fork trucks and forklifts: pneumatic and solid. The solid or cushion tires require less maintenance than pneumatic tires and do not easily puncture. Pneumatic or air-inflated tires offer great drive traction and load-cushioning. At the end of the day, cushion or solid tires provide less shock absorption.
Class VII forklifts are generally designed to be utilized on rough terrain. These kinds of machines are usually used in construction, agriculture and in logging environments. Last of all, Class VIII forklifts have all personnel and burden carriers. Dual Fuel lift trucks typically fit in this class.