Forklift guide

Many of our customers know very precisely what kind of forklift best serves their needs. Sometimes, however, you may need to weigh your options and carefully consider selecting the best machine to suit your requirements. This guide provides a brief overview of the different types of forklifts and their basic features. The guide is by no means all-out, so if you think something was lacking after reading this article, we would be happy to provide more information. We're just a message, an e-mail, or a phone call away.

Basic requirements

Consider what you primarily need to lift? Are the loads pallets or perhaps more unusually shaped objects? And if you need to lift pallets, are the pallets standard size or are for example longer forks required for the task? There is a variety of different attachments to help handle oddly shaped loads too.

Lift capacity and lift height

The weight of the loads to be handled and the required lifting height are the most essential things to consider when choosing a forklift. When weighing sufficient lifting capacity and lifting height, it is worth noting that the rated maximum lift capacity for the forklift does not cover the entire lifting distance. For example, the actual lift capacity of a pallet stacker with a rated lift capacity of 1200 kg is between 580 kg and 730 kg when lifting to a height of 4700 mm, depending on the load center. When it comes to lifting capacity, it is advisable to choose a little leeway if the actual loads are close to the limits of the rated lift capacity.

Operating environment

In addition to the required lifting height, also consider how much free space there height-wise. Of course, the aisle widths set requirements for the outer dimensions and turning radius of the forklift too. Are there any doors that the forklift has to fit under? How high are the doorways? If the operation includes, for example, the unloading of containers, it is of course worth paying attention to the structural height of the forklift.

Are there any doorsteps or uneven floors in the area of operation? Is the forklift used indoors, outdoors or both? How many shifts is the forklift supposed to work in a day? Is the weight capacity of the floor limited, i.e. how much can the forklift weigh? The above factors guide the selection of the forklift in terms of type, power type, size and equipment.

To those responsible for purchases, one thing is of interest above all others - costs. Of course, there are many things that affect the cost of a forklift. The first thing worth considering is the choice between buying and renting. We will not discuss the differences in buying and renting in this article, but try to provide a few factors that you may want to take into account when adding to your fleet.

When it comes to renting and leasing, the cost structure is usually pretty clear. The rental or leasing bill comes in monthly and the additional costs are caused by fuel or the electircity used to charge the electric forklift. When buying a forklift, in addition to the obvious purchasing cost, expenses may consist, for example, of financing costs, regular maintenance, repairs and spare parts. In the life cycle of a forklift, there will inevitably also be a point at which its costs are higher than the realistic resale value of the forklift. Of course, with leasing and renting, this is not a problem.

Indirect costs may arise, for example, from a major defect in the forklift. Estimate what it costs to have a forklift out of its intended work. By choosing a good rental partner, you can avoid this expense, because if the fault in the rental truck cannot be fixed quickly, you will be able to replace the faulty machine with a similar for the time of the repair.

The damage and resulting costs caused by driver error can be prevented by choosing a forklift suitable for its primary task. The right machine in the right place reduces workload, minimizes sick leave caused by poor ergonomics and, above all, prevents accidents at work. Various safety accessories are also available for forklifts. The most common are reversing cameras and mast cameras as well as blue spot lights indicating the movement and direction of travel of the forklift.

Types of forklifts

As has already been mentioned, not all forklifts are suitable for all uses. Below you will find different types of forklifts and an overview of their features. There are also a couple of examples of specialty forklifts.

Pallet trucks

The manually operated pallet jack is familiar to most people, so it is not discussed here. Pallet trucks are electrically powered warehouse trucks that, as the name suggests, are used to transport pallets. Pallet trucks are very useful in larger warehouses as they put less strain on the operator compared to manual pallet jacks.

Pallet stackers

As is the case with pallet trucks, there are manual, semi-electric and electric pallet stackers available. Semi-electric stackers have an electric lift function but are moved manually. Full electric stackers can be pedestrian, stand-on or sit-on models. Stackers are ideal for warehouses with narrow aisle widths. The lift capacity of pallet stackers is usually somewhere between 1000 and 1600 kgs. Like counterbalance forklift trucks, pallet stackers have different mast types. Some stackers also have an "initial lift" function that raises the ground clearance of the truck to help driving over thresholds and such. In some models, the initial lift function can also be used to accommodate the handling of two pallets at a time.

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Stabilized stackers

Stabilized stacker is an established term in the Finnish. It is essentially a pallet stacker with hydraulic side supports. Thanks to the side stabilizers, the stacker can lift loads higher more safely. The stabilized stackers are usually of the stand-on type and are often equipped with an overhead guard for extra protection of the operator. Stabilized stackers are popular in warehouses where a high-lifting machine that can operate at narrow aisle widths is needed. The lift capacity of these stackers is commonly between 1200 kg and 1600 kg, the same as "ordinary" stackers

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Reach trucks

The reach truck works as its name suggests. The forks move both up and down and forward and back. Electric reach trucks are more compact than counterbalance trucks so they can be easily operated in narrow aisles. The forward-reaching fork carriage allows for easy loading of pallets onto the shelves. The lift capacity of reach trucks usually ranges from 1000 to 2500 kg, and depending on the mast, they can reach lifting heights of up to 10 metres.

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Counterbalance

The counterbalance forklift is the machine that most people think of when hearing the word "forklift." As you might expect, the weight on the rear of the forklift balances the load in front. Counterbalance trucks are available as electric, gas and diesel powered.

The battery of the electric counterweight truck acts as a counterbalance, so they can be slightly smaller in terms of exterior dimensions than their internal combustion counterparts. Compact electric trucks are available in both three-wheeled and four-wheeled versions. The price of an electric forklift battery slightly increases its purchase cost compared to a diesel or gas-powered forklift. A quiet and emission-free electric truck is ideal for indoor storage, but with the right equipment (e.g. closed cabin), they are also suitable for outdoor use. Electric forklift trucks generally have a lift capacity between 1000 kg and 5000 kg. Of course, there are more capable versions on the market, but diesel-powered forklifts are more common in the larger classes. It is advisable to take the charging time of the electric forklift into account when planning its work.

Diesel and gas powered forklifttrucks are popular due to their versatility and power. They are ideal for outdoor use, such as unloading trucks and containers. Counterbalance trucks powered by internal combustion engines are also suitable for moving goods at longer distances. Diesel and gas powered trucks are available in basically all lift capacities. At the moment, the world's largest counterbalance truck is probably the diesel-powered Kalmar DCG720-10LB, which can lift a whopping 72 tons!

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In addition to performance, internal combustion engine-powered counterbalance trucks have the advantage of being able to work in several shifts. It doesn't take long to refuel either type of forklift, so there is minimum downtime. For indoor use, ventilation in the working environment must be taken care of, because although modern forklifts have relatively low emissions, they do release odours and exhaust gases into the air. The purchase price of diesel and gas powered forklift trucks is usually lower than an electric truck of the corresponding size, but in comparison the maintenance costs are slightly higher.

Rough terrain forklift trucks

There are forklift trucks for especially demanding use as well. Equipped with large offroad tyres, rough terrain forklift trucks can be seen on construction sites. They are developed to withstand harsh elements and varying weather conditions. Rough terrain forklifts are usually designed to be easily serviced in non-workshop environments as well. Many models have four-wheel drive to ensure traction on different terrains.

Telehandlers

Like rough terrain forklift trucks, telehandlers are at their best in outdoor work and uneven terrains. The advantage of the telehandler is a telescopic boom that can lift and reach loads to places where the usual counterbalance truck cannot reach. There is also a wide range of accessories available for telehandlers for various applications, such as buckets and baskets for lifting persons. Telehandlers are commonly used on construction sites and in agriculture.

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Special forklift trucks

In addition to all the types of forklifts already mentioned, there are a number of special forklift models on the market that perform better than traditional forklifts in certain applications. For example, four-way trucks and side loaders are suitable for moving long goods. Narrow-aisle trucks excel in high and narrow warehouses. High lift order pickers have a raising platform and thus can be used to pick small goods in the warehouse. Truck mounted forklifts are carried in the rear of the delivery truck to enable unloading even if the receiver is not equipped with a forklift.