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Forklifts are becoming increasingly popular due to their versatility. However, customers often have questions such as: How to buy a forklift, the similarities and differences between different types of forklifts, their main applications, where to buy, etc. To help customers better understand these issues, please refer to the following article.
What is a forklift?
A forklift is an industrial equipment used to lift and move goods from one place to another. Forklifts can handle a wide range of loads, from a few dozen kilograms to several dozen tons, with lifting heights of up to tens of meters. They make the process of loading, unloading, and inspecting goods faster and more flexible.
Essentially, a forklift is an industrial truck designed to lift and move goods within companies and businesses, especially goods stacked on pallets. Today, forklifts have become an indispensable part of the industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as in warehousing, river ports, and seaports.
In the following article, we will specifically detail some types of forklifts along with their practical applications.
Forklift Trucks
Forklifts are the most common type of lift truck today, and it’s also the type that most people think of when they need a lift truck.
This type of forklift has forks extending from the front of the vehicle, with no legs or arms extending from this lifting part, meaning the forklift can be moved to the exact position of the load or pallet. This means that the forklift does not have the required access base of any particular working environment, it can simply lift, load, and unload goods in certain conditions.
Forklift engines typically use electricity, gas, or diesel.
As the name suggests, counterbalance forklifts operate on a balanced weight design, with the weight at the rear of the forklift, setting the lifting unit at the front. Electric forklifts can operate with a smaller load weight because the main power source to operate it is the battery.
Three-wheeled counterbalance forklift
A three-wheeled counterbalance forklift operates on the same principle as other counterbalance machines, however, this type of forklift includes a single wheel in the center of the rear of the vehicle to ensure maximum maneuverability.
Three-wheeled counterbalance forklifts are the perfect choice for applications where space is limited due to their ability to make tight turns and excellent maneuverability. They are also the ideal choice for applications requiring both indoor and outdoor use and warehouse stacking. The combination of the under-counterbalance and tight maneuverability ensures maximum productivity.
Reach Trucks
Forklifts are primarily designed for warehouse operations. Reach trucks offer maximum lift heights (up to 10 meters or more) with excellent maneuverability.
As the name suggests, reach trucks have the ability to “reach” beyond their stability base, allowing them to “access” high shelves effortlessly. The combination of this reach capability and a stable base enables reach trucks to lift to great heights (over 10 meters) while operating in very narrow aisles.
The truck’s base and battery are compactly housed within the narrow body, eliminating the need for a counterbalance weight in the forklift’s structure.
Some reach truck manufacturers design the seat with a tilting mechanism to provide the operator with a more comprehensive and comfortable view. For better visibility, reach trucks can be equipped with a camera on the fork carriage that transmits a view to an LCD screen in the cabin for navigation. These systems can be wired or wireless, however, in our experience, wired systems are more reliable as they are not easily interfered with by external sources such as broadband Wi-Fi networks.
While reach trucks are excellent for indoor, warehouse use, they are not ideal for outdoor work such as yard stacking or port operations. The low ground clearance can cause issues on uneven surfaces, and their electrical systems can be susceptible to problems when operating in environments with vibration from uneven surfaces.
Hand pallet trucks
Hand pallet jack is a non-motorized device designed to move pallets of goods.
Hand pallet jacks are very simple to operate with the operator sliding the forks into the pallet, ‘pumping’ the handle to lift the forks off the ground, and moving the load via the handle.
The front wheels are fitted inside the fork blades, and when the hydraulic pump is activated, the fork blades separate vertically from the front wheels, forcing the load upwards until it clears the floor. The pallet is only lifted high enough to clear the floor for the next move.
BOVIET is proud to be a distributor of a wide range of forklifts from the CLARK brand, genuine – best quality at a low price with preferential policies, and thoughtful warranty. Customers can contact us for in-depth advice on products, as well as choose the most suitable product for their work.