Understanding different types of forklifts and their applications
Forklifts are an
essential equipment in material handling processes for all industries. They
have a wide range of applications that make them a top investment for any
company. Forklift is an automated platform truck
that basically helps in carrying and moving loads that are too heavy for
humans. But despite the straightforward objective, forklifts come in a variety
of options, with each option serving its own unique purpose.
As important it
is to buy a forklift, it’s also important to understand what kind of forklift
will best suit your material handling needs.
Sure, your main objective is to get the load from A to B, but that’s not
just it. There are many more requirements that need to be factored in like the
width of your warehouse aisles, load type and terrain conditions. Once you’ve
identified all these requirements, you can then look for a forklift that will
best suit your needs and serve as a feasible option.
Here are 6 types
of different forklifts;
1.
Telehandler:
A Telehandler forklift contains an extendable arm attachment and an
articulating boom. It is ideally a combination of a crane and forklift and is
suitable for lifting loads off the ground to higher elevations. The twin forks
attached to the arm can move loads up to 5,500 pounds in weight, up to 19 feet
in the air. The Telehandler makes lifting inventory into odd angles and high
heights easily manoeuvrable.
2.
Counterbalance Forklift:
The counterbalance forklift is a standard warehouse forklift without
any extending arms for the forward forks and the back is weighted to counterbalance
the load. A counterbalance forklift is a popular option for a warehouse that
needs heavy loads in tight situations where manoeuvring is necessary.
This forklift comes in 2 options; a 3-wheel variant that allows the
operator to turn and manoeuvre in circles for extremely narrow aisles, and a
4-wheel variant where the back wheels are have more distance between them for
spaces with moderately narrow aisles.
3.
Reach Trucks:
Reach trucks make it very easy for loads to be carried to great
heights of up to 13 meters. Along with serving high-aisle set ups, a reach truck
can also save space as it has narrow spacing between aisles (roughly
2.6m-3.1m).
4.
Rough Terrain
Rough Terrain forklifts are specially designed for operations in
rough conditions and terrains like grainy, sand or muddy terrains. The main
component that comes in a rough terrain forklift is a special suspension
system, to bear all the impacts from the rough grounds.
5.
Order pickers:
Order pickers are designed to make ‘hand picking’ of goods easier
for the personnel. Personnel operating the order picker
themselves stand on the picker’s platform, adjusting its height and controlling
it. Once the height is set, the personnel manually handle the goods to and from
the stacks.
6.
Side loaders:
A side loader is a sub-variant of the conventional warehouse
forklift that can drive up alongside pallet racks and can unload without having
to turn. The operator is positioned in a compartment that is located in the
sideways to the forklift [adjacent], making it easier to manoeuvre through
tight spaces. Most forklift manufacturers in India
offer side loaders in their line-up.
Linde
India is a pioneer in Material handling equipment
& Warehouse Equipment. Industrial trucks by Linde; whether diesel lift
trucks, Electric
Reach Trucks or warehouse handling equipment, stand out because
of their innovative technology aimed at greater cost-effectiveness in
logistics. Linde Material Handling offers expertise in material flow and
carefully conceived functionality combined with maximum economy. If you are
looking material handling equipment dealers or prices in India, you should
definitely check out their website- lindemhe.com
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