In a further effort to improve forklift safety, Briggs Equipment UK Ltd is giving away high visibility vests to its short-term hire (STH) customers.
Forklift Truck, Lift truck, Reach Trucks & Accessories
A Forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials within manufacturing, warehousing and distribution environments. They are driver operated and there are many different specialist lift trucks available depending on the application. These range from the most common counterbalanced forklift trucks to more specialty trucks such as 3 Wheel Counterbalance Forklift Trucks, Reach Trucks, Hand Pallet Trucks, Powered Pallet Trucks, Sideloaders and Teletrucks. These lift trucks can be powered either by an internal combustion engine or an electric motor.
Crown takes the Gold
Aug 16, 2011
In the space of less than a year, a second international design prize has been awarded to Crown's new WT 3000 Series of pallet trucks.
Barloworld Handling gains ISO 14001 certificate
Aug 10, 2011
Materials handling equipment supplier Barloworld Handling has gained its first ISO 14001 certificate at its facility in Cumbernauld, Scotland, and re-pledged its continued commitment to the environment.
Articulated truck option helps seed company to grow at low cost
Aug 03, 2011
Based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, CN Seeds Ltd supplies professional growers with a wide range of herb, vegetable and flower seeds.
Safer handling solution for solar firm
Aug 03, 2011
A Birmingham-based manufacturer of materials handling equipment has significantly reduced the risk of accidents and saved valuable operator costs for PV Crystalox Solar PLC, a manufacturer of specialist components for state-of-the-art solar power systems.
Tesco take lithium-ion truck
Jul 27, 2011
The first lithium-ion powered forklift to be commercially available in the world the Jungheinrich EJE112i powered pallet truck has been purchased and is being trialled by Tesco.
Hoppecke's rapid charge solutions cut costs for truck operators
Jul 26, 2011
More and more companies operating fork lift trucks are reportedly reaping major benefits from using rapid battery charging systems supplied by Hoppecke Industrial Batteries.
Mentor helps forklift operators achieve their level best
Jul 13, 2011
Mentor training has helped take the guesswork out of forklift operations by becoming the first UK distributor of the award-winning Accu-tilt forklift tilt level indicator.
New trucks boost loading efficiency by 15%
Jul 13, 2011
A fleet of five Mitsubishi Grendia trucks has been credited with making an 'enormous' difference to Solent Stevedores' cargo handling operations at sugar giant Tate & Lyle's Silvertown facility.
Jungheinrich announces upgraded reach truck model
Jul 06, 2011
Jungheinrich has introduced a new version of its ETM/ETV 214/216 reach truck. The new model is claimed to offer increased mast lifting and lowering speeds together with improved acceleration.
Forklift Truck, Lift trucks, Reach Trucks.
A forklift truck is an industrial piece of equipment powered by electric, LPG, propane or diesel with a metal fork platform attached to its front. The truck is used to lift heavy loads by inserting the fork platform under cargo, pallets or containers, to move them around a manufacturing plant, industrial operation or warehouse environment for storage. The truck frame of a forklift truck forms the base for its lifting and includes wheels, counterweights, a carriage, and a mast.
Main functions of a forklift truck:
- Lifting and moving heavy loads
- Stacking and unstacking pallets
- Loading and unloading trucks
- Sorting and rearranging materials
- Picking and placing items
- Maintaining warehouse inventory
Forklift Truck Types
There are three main types of forklifts:
- Electric forklifts: These are powered by electric motors and are typically used in indoor environments. They are quiet and produce no emissions, making them a good choice for warehouses and other enclosed spaces.
- Internal combustion forklifts: These are powered by gasoline, diesel, or propane engines and are typically used in outdoor environments. They have a longer range than electric forklifts, but they are also louder and produce more emissions.
- Pedestrian-operated forklifts: These are small, lightweight forklifts that are operated by a pedestrian. They are typically used for light-duty lifting and moving tasks.
Articulated Forklift
Articulated forklift trucks are ideal for small spaces. The traditional articulated forklift is a sit-down configuration and provides the user with a narrow aisle forklift and a traditional counterbalance machine in the same unit. They provide a more cost-effective solution when it comes to maximising storage space and ergonomic operations.
Counterbalance Forklift
These are the most common forms of forklifts and come in 3 and 4 wheel models. The counterbalance forklift features two forks at the front and has the ability to drive up close to a load to pick it up and move it. They have a counterweight in the rear of the vehicle to compensate for the heavy load being lifted at the front. Counterbalance forklift trucks drive best on flat, smooth surfaces and should be used in more open spaces due to their large turning circle.
Side Loader Forklift
There are a variety of different sideloaders or forktrucks which can be powered by diesel, LPG and even propane. This is a piece of materials handling equipment designed for long loads and is ideally suited to the timber and steel industries. The operator’s cab is positioned up front on the left-hand side. The area to the right of the cab is called the bed or platform. This contains a central section within it, called the well, and the forks are built to travel perpendicular to the truck as it moves.
Reach Forklift
Reach Trucks are forklifts used in narrow aisle applications, such as warehouses, and have two outer legs to distribute the load with a set of wheels in the back located below the operator. This allows operators to navigate smaller spaces, and still be able to reach higher racking
Turret Trucks
These trucks have an articulating base that rotates the forks 180 degrees. They are fairly high cost, requiring a guidance system and are much slower than both the reach truck or articulated machines.
Swing Mast
Swing mast machines have a unique design enabling drivers to rotate the mast assembly 90° and shift left and right to pick or place loads in racks. This can be done without turning the forklift and are therefore ideal for very narrow aisles.
Rough Terrain Forklifts
Designed to be driven over uneven, rocky, and pot hold surfaces while carrying heavy loads
- Telehandler or Telescopic
- Rotating or Roto Telehandler
- Straight Mast
