Forklifts handle all those heavy tasks that otherwise would take a team of people. Here are four of the most common ways forklift trucks are used, and why each task is so important.
1. Lifting and Transporting Materials
Essentially, a forklift truck is built to lift and move heavy loads safely and in the most efficient way. Most standard forklifts can handle anywhere between 1,500 kg to 5,000 kg, while heavy-duty versions can lift over 20,000 kg in industrial settings like shipping yards.
The forks slide underneath pallets, crates, or large containers, so that the operators can raise loads high – often up to 3 to 6 metres, depending on the mast design. Some specialised forklifts can reach even higher, especially in narrow aisle warehouses.
2. Order Picking
In busy warehouses and distribution centres, forklifts help with order picking – especially when items are stored on high shelves. Specialised machines, such as order picker forklifts, mean that operators can be lifted along with the load, giving them direct access to products stored high up.
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3. Stacking
In warehouses where the space is limited, goods are often stacked on top of each other to maximise storage capacity. Forklifts enable operators to place pallets neatly on top of each other or onto high racking systems.
4. Loading and Unloading
One of the most visible uses of forklift trucks is loading and unloading goods from vehicles like lorries, shipping containers, and trailers.
