IQS Newsroom Articles on Lift Trucks
Lift Trucks
Lift trucks, also known as forklift trucks, are an industrial vehicle used to lift, retrieve and move heavy products, items and loaded pallets. Lift trucks are capable of stacking, racking and otherwise manipulating heavy loads into desired locations. Lift trucks are used in almost every industry which handles heavy items or large quantities, such as in warehousing, industrial manufacturing and distribution. They are particularly useful in storerooms, construction sites and loading docks and can be constructed for wide aisle, narrow aisle and very narrow aisle use. Lift trucks are used both indoor and outdoor, in large cooling units or on factory floors. Using a lift truck in most industrial or commercial situations improves storage potential, optimizes labor, reduces risk of injury and cuts stocking time.
Lift trucks have a power operated forked platform attached to the front designed to be inserted under loads to lift and move them. Lift trucks can be powered with internal combustion engines, using diesel, gas or liquid propane, or electric motors, using AC motors, DC motors, regenerative braking motors or fast charging motors. Hydraulic systems are used for lifting power in most lift trucks, although some companies have developed electric actuator controlled lifts. A few common lift truck features include tilting and rotating frames and wheels to increase the vehicles' overall maneuverability and efficiency. Some wheels also may be fitted with stabilizing outriggers. The lift trucks themselves may have safety rails installed around the lifting fork to minimize the risk of a load sliding or falling off. Safety features, such as flashing lights or audible sirens, are common features which help keep co-workers aware of the vehicles' movement and presence in order to avoid injury and product loss.
Lift truck manufacturers divide their products into specific classes of design and capacity. These classes primarily depend on the type of engine and tires that are used. Cushion/solid tires are designed for indoor use on smooth surfaces. Cushion tires do not need air inflation, and, as a result, puncture less easily and require less monitoring and significantly less maintenance than pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires are designed for outdoor use on uneven surfaces. Pneumatic tire advantages include load padding and allowance for increased traction. Another factor in the classification of lift trucks is the nature of counterbalance in the vehicle. Counterbalancing uses specifically placed weights to prevent the lift from toppling over under the weight of a load. This method is far more convenient than the other alternative of placing supports under the loads.