Komatsu

Lift trucks are used in warehousing, manufacturing, material handling, construction and mining applications to raise, engage and transport palletized loads. Lift trucks have 3 main kinds: a motorized drive, fork truck and manual drive. The travel or load movement is powered manually or by walking behind the machinery with manual-drive lift trucks.

Motorized-drive model forklifts are equipped with a motorized drive. In a lot of instances, a protected cab or seat is part of the design in order to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Fork trucks are another type that are motorized and include features like for example backup alarms and cabs. In order to prevent the equipment from turning over, some forklifts are counterbalanced. Other types of forklifts include safety rails, a rotating element like a turntable or other types of hand rails.

Essential specifications to take into account when choosing lift trucks consist of lift capacity and stroke. 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. Additional specifications for forklifts consist of their tire and type of fuel.

Forklifts comprise various fuel options like: LP or liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline and natural gas. There are 2 basic kinds of tires used for operating forklifts and fork trucks: solid and pneumatic. Solid or cushion tires do not puncture and require less maintenance than pneumatic tires. The solid or cushion tires do offer less shock absorption in general. Air-inflated or pneumatic tires however offer great load-cushioning and drive traction.

There are 7 classes of forklifts. The first class of lift trucks, Class I, is either stand-up or seated 3 wheeled units that are electric-motor rider trucks. Normally, rider units are counterbalanced and may have either pneumatic or cushion wheels. Class II forklifts are electric motor units that are used for stock applications or order picking in narrow aisle environments. These models offer extra reach functions or swing mast.

Forklift Class III lift trucks consist of standing-rider or walk-behind operated electric-motor trucks. Automated pallet lift trucks and high lift models are often counterbalanced units. Class IV forklifts have seated controls and cabs. These types of forklifts are rider fork trucks with internal combustion or IC engines. Moreover, this class utilizes solid or cushion tires.

Class V forklifts are rider fork trucks. They have cabs and seated controls, pneumatic tires and IC or internal combustion engines. Similar to Class IV lift trucks, they are typically counterbalanced. Class VI forklifts are tow tractor lifts which are designed for a sit-down rider. This particular class is supplied with electric or internal combustion or IC engines.

Lastly, Class VII forklifts are the perfect option for use on rough terrain areas. They are a common feature in construction, logging and agricultural applications. Class VII lift trucks consist of all personnel carriers and burden carriers.

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Forklift Parts