Reach Trucks
Reach trucks are industrial vehicles used to lift and move pallet loads from racks housed in narrow aisles. For indoor and outdoor material handling applications, as well as multi-directional movement, reach trucks are utilized in industries such as industrial manufacturing, distribution, electronics, logistics, textile, consumers, steel, granite and construction. Pallets that reach trucks typically handle are loaded with items such as computers, drums, corrugated boxes, plastic bottles, office furniture and beverages. Reach trucks are specifically designed for pallet load movement, storage and retrieval in racked storage and are most often found in warehouses with high shelves of up to 40 ft. and narrow aisles of less then 8 ft to 10 ft.
Reach trucks consist of outriggers, stabilizing arms, in the front of the truck as well as telescoping forks that work through scissor-type movement and are equipped with hydraulic lifting systems capable of raising the forks, or lifting platforms, to reach pallets and items on high warehouse shelves. Constructed with either internal combustion engines or electric motors, reach trucks can run on diesel or gas or be electrically powered. There are three main types of reach trucks: straddle reach trucks, a type of forklift truck that have wider bases in order to lift a heavy load higher than normal forklifts can; stand-up reach trucks, the most simple type of reach truck that will slide its forks under the desired pallet, then move the pallet and slide it into a new position; and lastly is double-deep reach trucks, but with extra-long forks that can slide a pallet into two-pallet deep shelving. Often one or more of these three types of reach trucks are used in warehouses.
There are many different advantages for using reach trucks in warehouses and distribution centers. Reach trucks improve productivity, storage density and space utilization as well as offering easy pallet load retrieval. Double-deep reach trucks in particular vastly reduce the necessary number of storage aisles. However, there are a few disadvantages to using reach trucks that include lengthy operator training due to the complexity of the controls, cannot be used for loading trucks and cannot move loads quickly over distances. In addition, while reach trucks can be used at heights up to 40 ft, it is not recommended because of difficulty in correct load placement and the physical strain upon the operator's neck and eyes.