| Counterbalanced forklift trucks has a large weight | | | | The Counterweight - The counterweight on |
| located at the rear of the truck to counterbalance | | | | counterbalance forklifts are as a rule a heavy cast |
| the weight being lifted at the front, obviously the | | | | iron weight joined to the rear of the forklift truck |
| counterbalanced weight will only work up to a certain | | | | frame. The sole reason for having the counterweight |
| limit. Hence the term 'counterbalance forklift truck'. | | | | on the fork truck is to counteract the weight of the |
| When it comes to specifying a counterbalance forklift | | | | load being lifted, obviously this is within the lift |
| there are so many variations to choose from that | | | | capacity of the forklift and should not be exceeded. |
| you can sometimes be left confused, following is a | | | | If the forklift is powered by an electric motor then |
| brief guide on the few types of counterbalance | | | | the heavy lead-acid battery itself may serve as part |
| forklift available to you. | | | | of the counterweight. |
| Walkie Pallet Trucks | | | | The Forklift Cab - The cab is the area that contains a |
| The Walkie Pallet Truck is at the lower end of the | | | | seat for the driver in addition to the control pedals, |
| forklift scale and is a piece of equipment that is used | | | | steering wheel, levers switches and a dashboard |
| for getting into tight and smaller places. Because of | | | | containing operator readouts. The cab area may be |
| the maneuverability of this forklift, you can use it | | | | open air or it may be fully enclosed, but it is always |
| almost anywhere you need to. | | | | surrounded by a steel cage-like overhead guard |
| Walkie Stackers | | | | assembly. |
| The Walkie Stackers are very similar to the Walkie | | | | The Overhead Guard - Designed to protect the |
| Pallet trucks. The main difference between the | | | | driver from falling objects the overhead guard is a |
| Walkie Pallet Truck and the Stacker is that they are | | | | metal roof support by posts at each corner of the |
| suitable to lift product much higher than the Walkie | | | | cab, any objects falling from a height onto an |
| pallet trucks. They are still easy to get into tight | | | | operator would be extremely dangerous. The |
| places, but are made to lift extra high for the | | | | Overhead Guard helps to minimise any risk to the |
| stacking capability. Walkie stackers are enormously | | | | forklift operator. |
| multifaceted and are built to be used in a collection of | | | | The Power Source - The source of power to the |
| applications. Stackers can lift up to 2.0 tonne with | | | | forklift may consist of an internal combustion engine |
| mast heights reaching a maximum of 6.0 metres. | | | | that can be powered by LP gas , CNG gas, gasoline |
| Standard Walkie Stackers are are used extensively in | | | | or diesel fuel. Electric forklifts are powered by either |
| warehousing and storage environments for moving | | | | a battery or fuel cells that provide power to electric |
| low volume pallets. | | | | motors. The motors may be either DC or AC types, |
| Rider Pallet Trucks | | | | and there are many different advantages and |
| Rider Pallet Trucks, different from the Walkie type | | | | disadvantages of all types of fuel. |
| of lift, operate with somebody seated within the | | | | The Mast - taking on the work of raising and |
| truck as opposed to walking behind it. The Rider | | | | lowering the load is the forklift mast. The mast is |
| Pallet Trucks are used extensively for dock loading | | | | made up of interlocking rails that also provide lateral |
| and unloading. | | | | stability. . |
| Sit Down Counter Balanced Trucks | | | | The Carriage - The foklift carriage is the component |
| The Sit Down Counter Balanced Trucks are known | | | | to which the forks themselves or other attachments |
| for their different designs. They feature a three | | | | are mounted. The carriage is mounted into and is |
| wheel as well as a four wheel forklift. They are made | | | | raised and lowered on the mast rails by means of |
| to be ridden, and are tough as well as durable trucks. | | | | chains or by being directly attached to a hydraulic |
| A typical counterbalanced forklift truck is | | | | cylinder. |
| manufactured with the following features: | | | | Attachments - There are many different types of |
| The Truck Frame - The truck frame is the base of | | | | fork attachements available, these may include |
| the forklift to which the mast, axles, wheels, | | | | extensions, sideshifters, carton clamps, multipurpose |
| counterweight, overhead guard and power source | | | | clamps, rotators, fork positioners, carpet poles, pole |
| are all attached. The fuel and hydraulic tanks may or | | | | handlers, container handlers, roll clamps and many |
| may not be built as part of the truck frame. | | | | others. |