Do You Know Forklift Types

• The type of forklift you choose depends on how you will use it.

Industrial reach forklifts are common in warehouses, making it possible to access items stacked on storage pallets.

1. These forklifts come in two styles: stand-up and double-deep. Stand-up forklifts enable operators to lift and move one load at a time. Double-deep forklifts have longer forks to load two loads at a time.
2. Counterbalance forklifts are also common in warehouses. These forklifts have dual forks in front for lifting and moving loads. Some have three wheels for navigating narrow areas.

• Rough terrain forklifts are ideal for construction sites with uneven terrain. The tires are designed to provide greater stability, and these forklifts are faster.
• Side-loader forklifts have forks alongside the truck so they fit into narrow aisles.
• Telescopic handler forklifts have a boom that provides more lifting options, making it ideal in agricultural situations.

• Forklift Capacity

• Choosing forklift capacity depends on how you plan to use the machinery.
• The weight of typical loads, the distance lifted, width of aisle space, hours of usage per day and indoor or outdoor usage are factors that determine capacity.
• Forklift capacity measures the weight a forklift can lift. Minimum capacities are approximately 1 ton and upper capacities can exceed 3 ton. Most forklifts have a load center of 24 inches, which is the horizontal distance from the front of the forks to the load’s center of gravity.

UNDERSTANDING FORKLIFT LIFTING CAPACITIES AND DATA PLATES

• Have you ever wondered what goes into determining how much a forklift can really lift? Forklift capacity is the measurement of how much weight a particular forklift can lift. It is a common misconception is that a forklift with a maximum rated lifting capacity of 1 ton. can lift any 1 ton. Load this may not be the case depending on a number of factors, and the forklift carrying capacityyou need can vary.

Ø Forklift Lifting Capacities: Load Size and Forklift Configuration

• First, you have to consider the vertical and horizontal load center of the load that is being lifted, which essentially boils down to the load’s size and weight distribution. The longer, taller, and wider a load gets, the more it is going to affect a forklift’s center of gravity. Since the load center also depends on the load’s weight distribution, an unevenly distributed load can also reduce the overall lifting capacity of the forklift.
• Second, you have to consider the truck’s capabilities for lift, tilt, and load manipulation. Forklifts are plated as standard for the worst case scenario, which includes all of these factors. The ability to move the load further away from the forklift’s center of gravity by lifting, tilting, or performing a function like side shift can all affect a forklift’s maximum capacity.
• Speaking of attachments, there are more factors than just load manipulation that can affect capacity. An attachment’s effective thickness tells you how much further the load is pushed out from the truck’s fork face due to the attachment’s size. Its weight also plays a significant role as that increased weight out on the carriage reduces the load weight that the truck is capable of supporting.
• Different tire types and tread widths also play a significant role. A cushion tire versus a solid or air-filled pneumatic tire, for example, can have an effect on capacity. Wide tread and dual tire configurations can also increase a truck’s overall capacity due to the wider stance increasing the size of the forklift’s stability triangle. Battery weight on an electric truck can also have an impact, which is one reason why using a battery that meets the truck’s minimum battery weight requirements is crucial to safe operation.

Each forklift has limitations in the amount of weight it can lift, and how high it can carry or lift a load. When choosing a forklift, it is important that you consider the forklift capacity to ensure you are selecting the right forklift for the job. Each forklift and its attachments have an OSHA required data plate that specifies the maximum load size, which is explained here.

• First, ask yourself these questions:

1. How heavy is my typical load?
2. How high do I need to lift my loads?
3. How wide is my common aisle space?
4. How many hours will my forklift be used per day / per week?
5. Will my forklift be used indoors or outdoors?

• What is Forklift Capacity and how is it measured?

1. Forklift capacity is the measurement of how much weight a particular forklift can lift. Lower capacities begin around 1 ton. and can go up to over 3 ton.

• What is a Load Center?
• A load center is the horizontal distance from the front, vertical face of the forks to the center of gravity of the load. It constitutes the standard, or base, for rating the load capacity of the forklift places the load center at 24 inches on most forklifts.
• Before you begin your research, know the dimensions and the weight of your typical loads. Determine if your loads are typically the same size or if they vary. If your load sizes fluctuate, make sure you know the weight of your heaviest load.

• Forklift Dimensions and Lift Height
• Another thing to keep in mind is the forklift dimensions.  Make sure you give the forklift plenty of space to maneuver in tight aisle and narrow racking. Even though the size of your forklift can vary, the dimensions for most four-wheel IC and Cushion forklifts range from a width of three feet for the smaller models, and up to eight feet for larger forklifts.
• If you have a tracking system and loads are consistently being raised and lowered, then the height is a major factor. Are loads lifted to a variety of heights? If so, use the maximum height when determining what forklift, you need.

Lift the load considering all the above factors for safe lifting

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