Forklifts are essential equipment for various industries, offering versatility in material handling tasks. Understanding the different types of forklifts and their specific applications can help you choose the right forklift for your needs. It is also crucial to consider the lift capacity of different forklift classes, ranging from a few thousand pounds to over a hundred thousand pounds. We cover all that in this article.

Common Forklift Types

Warehouse Forklift

Warehouse forklifts, also known as industrial forklifts, are ideal for loading and unloading pallets in a warehouse setting. They typically feature twin forks at the front and are designed to lift loads such as pallets off the ground to higher elevations using electric forklifts and power pallet trucks. Such forklift trucks are fundamental in any inventory or storage operation, and quick and efficient handling of materials is crucial.

• Popular Models: Hyster 36-38T, Komatsu 20 BX50, Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift
• Key Features: Loading capacity of 1-5 tons
• Uses: Raising and transporting items over short distances

Warehouse forklifts are perfect for operations that require frequent material movement across shorter distances. They enable the rapid relocation of goods and materials, enhancing workflow efficiency.

Side Loader

Side loaders are used for handling long, bulky items like timber and pipes, and are ideal for narrow aisles. The operator stands in a sideways compartment, allowing easy maneuverability alongside racks. This type of forklift is particularly useful in tight spaces where traditional forklifts might struggle.

• Popular Brands: Toyota, Raymond, Yale, Hyundai
• Key Features: Sideways compartment
• Uses: Lifting heavy, bulky items in tight spaces

Utilizing a side loader in your operations can dramatically increase the efficiency with which you handle long or awkwardly shaped items, significantly reducing the risk of damage.

Counterbalance Forklift

Counterbalance forklifts have forks at the front and a weight at the back to balance heavy loads. They come in various types, including 3-wheel variants for tight maneuvering and stand-up models for quick on-and-off operations. This design allows for direct approach to the load, with no need for reaching or repositioning.

• Popular Brands: Mitsubishi, Toyota, Crown
• Key Features: Back-mounted weight
• Uses: Tight 360-degree maneuvering

Whether you’re operating in cramped spaces or need a reliable lift truck for general material handling, counterbalance forklifts provide a sturdy and straightforward solution.

Telehandler

Telehandlers, or telescopic forklifts, combine the functions of a crane and a forklift, featuring an extendable arm for lifting loads to higher elevations. This versatile equipment can be indispensable on construction sites or in agricultural settings where reach and height are necessary.

• Popular Brands: JCB, Genie, Bobcat, Haulotte, Caterpillar
• Key Features: Extendable arm and articulating boom
• Uses: Lifting loads to higher elevations and into tight spaces

The telehandler’s ability to reach over obstacles and lift directly to specific heights makes it an essential tool for many industries.

Heavy-Duty Forklift

Heavy-duty forklifts can lift extremely heavy loads and are used in industrial applications. They combine the capabilities of warehouse forklifts and telehandlers, providing immense power and lifting capacity for the most demanding tasks. It is crucial to consider the lift capacity when selecting a heavy-duty forklift, as they can handle varying lift capacities ranging from a few thousand pounds to over a hundred thousand pounds.

• Popular Brands: NACCO Industries, Mitsubishi
• Key Features: Hydraulic levers for balance and power
• Uses: Transporting heavy loads in industrial settings

For tasks that involve moving particularly heavy or large loads, a heavy-duty forklift is often the only practical solution.

Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks

Designed for outdoor job sites, rough terrain forklift trucks have sturdy pneumatic tires for stability on uneven surfaces. This makes them perfect for construction sites or any outdoor area where the ground is not paved.

• Popular Models: JCB 950, CASE 588H
• Key Features: Sturdy design with oversized tires
• Uses: Outdoor jobs with uneven, rocky ground

When your job takes you off the beaten path, rough terrain forklifts are engineered to keep up with the demands of such environments, ensuring that no place is too tough to reach.

Pallet Trucks

Pallet jacks, or pump trucks, are compact forklifts used for moving small loads in tight spaces. They come in manual and electric variants, providing an easy solution for moving pallets across flat surfaces without the need for larger, more cumbersome equipment.

• Popular Models: Mighty Lift 20×36 Inch Pallet Truck, Vestil Electric Pallet Truck
• Key Features: Compact size, manual or battery-powered
• Uses: Maneuvering small loads over short distances

For operations that require frequent movement of lighter loads, pallet trucks offer simplicity and agility, reducing strain and increasing productivity.

Electric Powered Walkie Stacker

Walkie stackers are operated by walking behind the unit and are used for lifting pallets to greater heights than pallet jacks. This equipment is particularly suited to smaller warehouses or retail spaces where full-sized forklifts may not be practical.

• Popular Brands: Hyster, Jungheinrich, Toyota
• Key Features: Operator walks behind the truck
• Uses: Lifting pallets to greater heights

If your facility has limited space but requires vertical storage solutions, a walkie stacker is an ideal choice.

Order Picker

Order pickers lift operators to warehouse racks for picking individual units without bringing down full pallets, ideal for inventory applications. These machines are essential in modern warehousing, allowing for precise and efficient order fulfillment.

• Key Features: Open operator window, no pallet handling
• Uses: Piece-picking in warehouses

Implementing order pickers in your operations can greatly enhance picking efficiency and accuracy, particularly in high-volume storage environments.

Reach Fork Truck

Reach trucks are designed for indoor use, with the ability to extend forks to reach into warehouse racks for quick and precise pallet picking. This design optimizes space utilization by allowing deeper storage in racking systems.

• Popular Brands: UniCarriers, Clark Materials, Yale
• Key Features: Stabilizing legs, forward-extending forks
• Uses: Indoor pallet picking

For warehouses where space is at a premium, reach trucks offer an effective way to maximize your storage capacity while ensuring easy access to stored goods.

Forklift Classifications

Forklifts are classified into seven categories by OSHA based on their fuel type and application. This classification helps ensure that the right type of forklift is used for the right job, enhancing safety and efficiency.

• Class I: Electric Motor Rider Trucks
• Examples: Warehouse and counterbalance forklifts.
• These electric-powered forklifts are commonly used indoors where air quality is a concern. They are quiet and do not produce emissions, making them ideal for environments such as food processing and healthcare.
• Class II: Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Truck
• Examples: Side loaders, order pickers, and reach trucks.
• Designed to operate in narrow aisle warehousing spaces, these forklifts maximize storage by reducing the aisle width needed between racks. They are highly maneuverable and suitable for spaces where traditional forklifts cannot go.
• Class III: Electric Motor Hand Truck
• Examples: Electric pallet jacks and walkie stackers.
• These are the smallest and most maneuverable types of forklifts, used primarily for lighter loads and lower lift heights. They are ideal for moving loads over short distances such as in retail or small warehouses.
• Class IV: Internal Combustion Engine with Cushion Tires
• These internal combustion engine trucks typically use gasoline, diesel, liquid propane, or compressed natural gas. They are used indoors on smooth surfaces. The cushion tires offer a lower clearance which makes them unsuitable for rough terrains but perfect for flat and even floors such as those found in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
• Class V: Internal Combustion Engine with Pneumatic Tires
• These internal combustion engine trucks are versatile and can use gasoline, diesel, liquid propane, or compressed natural gas. The pneumatic tires provide a greater clearance and are designed to handle rougher surfaces than cushion tires, making them suitable for a variety of terrains both indoors and outdoors.
• Class VI: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors
• These machines are primarily used for towing rather than lifting. They are commonly found in airports and assembly lines where they move large loads or equipment over relatively long distances at a facility.
• Class VII: Rough Terrain Forklift Truck
• Examples: Rough terrain forklift trucks.
• Specifically designed for outdoor construction sites and rugged environments, these forklifts have sturdy pneumatic tires that handle uneven surfaces with ease, ensuring stability and safety in challenging conditions.

Understanding these classifications can help you narrow down your choices when considering a forklift. It allows you to match the specific needs of your operation with the forklift designed to perform best under those conditions.

Choosing the Right Forklift

When selecting a forklift, consider factors such as load capacity, job site stability, space height, fuel type, and terrain conditions. Each factor plays a crucial role in ensuring that the forklift you choose can perform effectively and safely within your operational environment.

• Determine the capacity: How much weight do you need to lift? Understanding the weight of your typical loads will help you select a forklift with the right capacity to perform tasks without risk of overload.
• Calculate the job site’s stability: Can the ground sustain the forklift? This is especially important for outdoor use where ground conditions can vary.
• Measure the space’s height: Can your forklift pass through the designated openings? Height restrictions can limit the type of forklift you can use in your environment.
• Select the correct fuel type: Do you need battery power or gas? Consider the operation’s duration, cost, and environmental concerns when choosing between electric, diesel, or gas forklifts.
• Analyze the terrain: Is the surface smooth, uneven, or rough? The type of tires and the design of the forklift need to be compatible with the terrain to ensure safety and efficiency.

Elevate Your Operations with Helmar Parts

At Helmar Parts, we offer an extensive selection of forklift parts and accessories to keep your equipment running smoothly. Whether you need to replace a part or upgrade your forklifts, we have everything you need to maintain optimal performance.

FAQs

What are the different types of forklifts available?

The main types of forklifts include warehouse forklifts, side loaders, counterbalance forklifts, telehandlers, heavy-duty forklifts, rough terrain forklift trucks, pallet jacks, walkie stackers, order pickers, and reach fork trucks. Each type is designed for specific applications, such as handling heavy loads, navigating narrow aisles, or operating in rough terrains.

What are electric forklifts and where are they best used?

Electric forklifts are powered by batteries and are known for their quiet operation and lack of emissions. They are ideal for indoor environments or places where air quality is a concern, such as food processing facilities or warehouses that store sensitive products. Electric forklifts can be used as ride trucks, hand trucks, and narrow aisle forklifts.

How do loader forklifts differ from other types of forklifts? Loader forklifts, often referred to as front loaders or bucket loaders, are equipped with a front-mounted bucket or scoop. They are not typically categorized under standard forklift types but are more akin to heavy machinery used in construction and landscaping for moving earth or materials rather than palletized loads.

What should I consider when choosing a forklift to lift heavy loads?

When choosing a forklift for heavy loads, consider the maximum weight capacity of the forklift, the stability of the environment where it will operate, and whether additional attachments are needed for specific tasks. Heavy-duty forklifts and telehandlers are often suitable for lifting very heavy or bulky loads.

Which forklift is suitable for working in narrow aisles?

Narrow aisle forklifts are specifically designed to operate in tight spaces within warehouses. These include side loaders and reach trucks, which have a smaller footprint and are highly maneuverable. These forklifts help maximize storage by reducing the aisle width required for operation.

Can forklifts be used outdoors?

Yes, certain types of forklifts, such as rough terrain forklift trucks, are specifically designed for outdoor use. They have sturdy, pneumatic tires that provide stability on uneven surfaces, making them ideal for construction sites or any outdoor area where the ground is not paved.

What are the benefits of using electric-powered forklifts?

Electric-powered forklifts offer several benefits, including reduced operating costs, lower maintenance requirements, and no emissions. They are quieter than internal combustion models and are suitable for indoor use or in environments where noise reduction is important.