Materials Handling Equipment Explained – Part 2

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The internal combustion forklifts with cushion tires are designed for indoor applications, such as warehousing and manufacturing. Powered by gasoline, diesel, or LPG, these forklifts are very flexible and run on solid rubber tires, known as cushion tires. A dual fuel powered forklift can run both on LPG and gas fuel, offering more options for the operators. The most common type from this class is the counterbalance forklift.

The counterbalance forklift is one of the most commonly used forklifts which can be found on the market. Unlike other forklift types, the counterbalance forklift requires a counterbalance weight at the rear for additional stability. Although it is flexible and can be powered by gas, diesel or electricity, the electric counterbalance forklift is a number one choice for many operators, because it comes with a lightweight battery which can be easily recharged.

For outdoor applications, the internal combustion forklifts with pneumatic tires are the preferred choice. These Class V units are capable to run on uneven and unstable surfaces, and are widely used for various tasks. These forklifts have big pneumatic tires and are intended for outdoor applications. However, they are inefficient when used on soft surfaces, such as loose gravel, grass or sand, because the tires provide lower suspension when moving through such ground conditions.

Beside the counterbalance forklift, the truck mounted forklift is another versatile forklift. This is actually a forklift unit mounted at the rear end of a truck. The truck mounted forklift is a flexible lifting machine which can be assembled easily on the job site. Unlike the standard lift cylinders, the truck mounted forklift has a double acting cylinder, which is pressurized when the forks are raised and lowered. With this cylinder, the forklift is capable to lift and lower loads easily by using hydraulic power.

For carrying loads over rough terrains, there is only one forklift which can be used – a rough terrain forklift. Unlike the counterbalance forklift, this forklift is designed to transport materials over rough terrains with ease. The most obvious and unique “detail” of the rough terrain forklift is the big and heavy-duty tires. These tires allow the machine to run over muddy, snowy, rainy, bumpy and other rough terrains.

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