As in almost all industries, forklifts are associated with numerous terms that may not be familiar to all at first glance. The spec list of forklift trucks may include some unfamiliar terminology that may actually play a role in succesful selection of the forklift. Below is a list of terms that we get asked about on a weekly basis. If there is something you need more information on, please let us know. We will add to this article to help others too.
The fork positioner / spread is an attachment that allows for hydraulic movement of the forks in two ways. The forks can be moved from left to right and they can be spread or moved closer to each other. This attachment speeds up working with different pallet sizes and is a common feature in most of the forklift trucks in our stock. It is also possible to equip the truck with just a side shifter which means you would have to alter the width of the forks manually. There are many types of fork attachments available, both with integrated and interchangeable forks.
Please note that the installation of a fork attachment may affect the actual lif capacity and the load center of the forklift.
Each forklift has a load center distance that is specified by the manufacturer. The distance indicates the distance from the base of the forks to the center of the load. For counterbalance forklift trucks, the usual load center distances are 500 or 600 mm. Why is this information important? Contrary to popular belief the rated maximum lift capacity of the forklift does not mean that the forklift can lift that exact load to full height regardless of the dimensions of the load. For example, the manufacturing plate below is from a counterbalance truck with a rated lifting capacity of 4000 kg. As you can see from the chart, a 100 mm change in the load center affects the actual lift capacity at maximum height by 300 kg.
It would be possible to write an entire post covering the load center, but what matters is that you take into account the constraints of the truck before purchasing one, and especially before using it. The load center distance determines the size and weight of the load that the forklift truck can safely lift.
Most forklifts, be it counterbalance trucks, reach trucks or pallet stackers, are available with different masts. As you would guess, the mast type affects the maximum lift height of the forklift. But the different mast types have a couple of other characteristics too. Tip: When choosing a suitable mast and lift height, leave about 10-15 cm of wiggle room between the maximum lift height requirement (e.g. the top shelf of the warehouse) and the maximum lift height of the forklift. This allows loads to be moved more easily even at greater heights.
When looking at forklift specs, free lift is usually expressed in millimetres. The figure indicates how high you can lift the load before the mast's extension begins to rise. Free lift is a useful feature when you need to lift and handle loads in areas with limited height, say in a container for example. Without free lift, the mast begins to extend right away, therefore altering the driving height of the truck.
Some pallet stackers are equipped with an initial lift function. Initial lift is used to increase the ground clearance of a forklift making it easier to cross thresholds, for example.
If you wish to know more about the topics in this article or anything else forklift-related, please let us know. You can always call, send a message or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.
