Forklifts are as varied as the companies that use them. They come in all shapes and sizes and are used for all kinds of purposes.
Some are very large and are used for heavy jobs like lifting 40 foot shipping containers.
Others are much smaller and used for jobs as simple as lifting single pallets in a warehouse.
Forklifts are made for all kinds of conditions like ones designed to be used outside on rough
terrain or the ones intended to be used on the slick paved or concreted floors of a warehouse.
Below you will find a list of the major forklift catagoies and a breif definition of its use.
We hope you find it helpful.
| Container Handler |
Outdoor use - handles 20'-40' containers. Some container handlers use 20/40 hydraulic spreaders to handle containers, others may use forks to lift containers from the bottom depending on capacity. |
| Cushion Tire |
Indoor Use - Most commonly used forklift in the U.S. Warehouse type operations, good for use on smooth surfaces only. Not well suited for outdoor use. Smaller in size when compared to pneumatic tire unit of equal capacity. |
| Electric Man Down Swing Reach Turret |
Indoor use - Designed for storing pallets in very narrow aisles. Rotating masts or forks permit the truck to stack without turning. Operator can ride up on platform to view load handling on Man Up units. Man Down units are operated at ground level and also have swinging masts for stacking without turning. Charger required as with all electric powered units. |
| Electric Man Up/Down Swing Reach Turret |
Indoor Use - Swing Reach Turrets are designed for storing pallets in very narrow aisles at heights of 25 ft or more. Rotating masts or forks permit the truck to stack without turning. Operator can ride up on platform to view load handling on Man Up units. Man Down units are operated at ground level and also have swinging masts for stacking without turning. |
| Electric Narrow Aisle Single Reach |
Indoor use - operates in very narrow aisles storing & retrieving pallets. Used for picking from racks. Reach mechanism extends to reach into rack. Can extend 1 or 2 deep into rack. Outriggers are required to counter load weight. Good in areas where fumes may be harmful such as food operations and areas with little or no ventilation. |
| Electric Order picker |
Indoor use - Order picker trucks place the operator on an elevating platform along with the forks. The operator picks items or cases from racks onto a pallet or shelf-type structure. Units with larger platforms are used to pick furniture from high racks. Indoor use only. Charger required as with all electric powered units. |
| Electric Walkie Counterbalanced Stacker |
Indoor use - Stackers are general utility, electric-powered, counterbalanced vehicles suitable for stacking and for short moves such as staging and order accumulating. Unlike the Straddle Stacker, the Counterbalanced Stacker contains no "outriggers". Loads are counterbalanced using the overall length of the unit plus battery weight. |
| Electric Stand up End Control (Docker) |
Indoor use - Better suited for stacking and short moves. Works well on docks for fast truck loading. Semi-compact design. Comes in front wheel drive or single rear wheel drive depending on manufacturer. Rider faces forward rather than side mount. Wheels are larger than that of Narrow Aisle units. /td>
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| Electric Walkie Straddle Stacker |
Indoor use - stackers are general utility, electric-powered vehicles suitable for stacking and for short moves such as staging and order accumulating. Unlike the Counter balanced Stacker, the Straddle Stacker counters load weight with outriggers or "legs with wheels". |
| Electric Walkie/Rider Pallet Jack |
Indoor use - highly versatile low-lift pallet and/or skid handlers. These trucks are very popular in grocery warehouses. Tires are hard and fork size is usually 27" wide x 48" long. Charger required as with all electric powered units. |
| Pneumatic Tire |
Outdoor use - indoors if space allows. Better ground clearance than cushion tire forklift, softer ride, but larger chassis. Larger in size when compared to Cushion Tire unit of equal capacity. |
| Rough Terrain |
Outdoor use - where terrain may be rough. Better ground clearance than Pneumatic Tire forklift. Can be used in mud, gravel or areas with severe ruts. Units available in 2wd & 4wd.
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| Truck-Mounted Forklifts |
Outdoor use - handles sod or masonry, these units piggy back on flatbed trailers for portability and ease of use. Load can be counterbalanced or supported by outriggers depending on type and manufacturer. |
| 3 Wheel Electric Sitdown |
Indoor use - smooth surfaces where space is a premium. Ultra-compact design. Ground clearance same as cushion tire forklift or Electric 4 wheel units. Less horsepower than gas powered units. Not well suited for outdoor use. Good in areas where fumes may be harmful such as food operations and areas with little or no ventilation.
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| 4 Wheel Electric Sitdown |
Indoor use - Good in areas where fumes may be harmful such as food operations and areas with little or no ventilation. Ground clearance same as cushion tire forklift. Less horsepower than gas powered units. Not well suited for outdoor use.
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