It’s time for another part in our series about getting to know more about your warehouse equipment! This series aims to teach you more about the options that are available for your warehouse equipment in order to ensure you are using the best possible option. The DAK Equipment & Engineering team wants to educate our warehouse customers so they have the most productive, cost-efficient warehouse possible. In our previous blogs, we’ve discussed some of the more common types of conveyor systems as well as some less common types and what they are used for in the warehouse setting.
Today, we’re going to talk about forklifts. You might think that all forklifts are the same, but they aren’t. Here are some of the different types of forklifts that might be useful in your warehouse.
Different Types of Forklifts
Counterbalance Forklifts
This is the forklift you probably see in your head when you imagine forklifts hard at work in the warehouse. These look almost like a golf cart with two forks on the front for picking up pallets. They get their name from the weight in the back of the truck which counteracts the weight of the load on the forks. These forklifts are straightforward to operate but might not give you the reach that you need and require more space in which to operate.
Reach Forklifts
Reach trucks are called this because of their ability to reach into racking in order to pull out a load. These are great forklifts for a warehouse because they are able to operate in tight spaces and lift their loads very high. That makes them useful for loading and unloading pallet racks. They can also be configured to handle double deep racks.
Side-Loading Forklifts
These forklifts are great for narrow spaces because you don’t need as much room to load the materials onto the forks. There are a number of variations of the side loaders, including ones with enclosed cabs and ones that require the operator to stand up. The forks on this forklift are on the side of the machine, which makes it easier to operate.
Pedestrian-Operated Forklifts
These forklifts are moved by someone walking around with them, which is how they get their name. There is no cab on these. They are typically guided with a handle. Some of them might have a small motor to help move the materials more easily, and others might use a pump handle to help raise the load off of the floor so the operator can guide it to a new location without using a larger forklift. These are good for warehouses that don’t often have to move pallets, making a traditional forklift unnecessary.
Very Narrow Aisle Trucks
These trucks are designed for very narrow aisle configurations. They allow the operator to reach materials on higher shelves within the very narrow aisles without doing damage to the materials or the pallet shelving. These are highly specialized forklifts for a very specialized setup, but they can be useful when you are trying to maximize your storage space.
Which Forklift Do You Need?
If your warehouse is struggling to move materials from one area to another, it may be time to look at different forklift options. The DAK Equipment & Engineering team is happy to talk to you about your options and help you find the one that’s right for your warehouse. Give us a call or contact us through our website for more information and to speak with one of our project managers about all of your forklift needs today. We have options for every warehouse, budget, and material handling challenge!
