You'll find few pieces of heavy machinery that are as valuable or effective as a lift truck for businesses and companies that have to transport heavy materials and items. Forklifts are a common site in distribution depots, lumber yards, dockyards, manufacturing plants, shipping and receiving, agriculture, warehouses and other work places that has to handle loads ranging from 3000 to 30,000 plus lbs.
The lift truck is used most frequently to keep the flow of operations running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Even if lift trucks are a large investment, the amount of man hours they can save and the injuries they reduce from heavy lifting could make the purchase pay for itself eventually.
There are numerous different units and manufacturers of lift trucks on the market. Various models are made to accomplish various jobs. So as to make certain that you don't buy the wrong type of equipment or buy more than you need, it is very important to assess your company's requirements and compare to the various models available on the market. Speaking with a authorized forklift distributor is a very good idea and so is doing your own research online.
When looking at forklifts by fuel type, the following types are available:
Electric: The electric forklift is run by lead-acid based rechargeable batteries. These heavy and large batteries could run a machinery for more than 5 or 6 straight hours. Electric models are best suited for indoor use due to their lack of emissions. They are a common choice for warehouses and retail spaces as they provide a fairly low cost per hour of operation and put zero emissions into the air where people are working.
Internal Combustion: IC forklifts work with a variety of fuels. Several units take CNG or compressed natural gas, others take diesel, liquid propane or LP or gasoline. When compared to electric forklifts, the IC or internal combustion models accelerate faster, are easier to refuel and could carry heavier loads. These models are normally more pricey to use than their electric counterparts.
Fuel Cell: Hydrogen fuel cell lift trucks are the latest in lift truck technology. These models provide the fast refueling capability of an IC model but provide the quietness and zero emissions of electric lift trucks.
Nissan's outdoor units would offer synchronized steering. This particular feature automatically returns the wheel knob to the original position following completing a turn. Equipped with solid pneumatic tires to offer a comfortable ride both indoors and outdoors, these tires are more resistant to both damage and wear.