Whether for a warehouse, facility, or factory, a forklift is essential in material handling and transporting goods efficiently. These versatile machines streamline daily operations by moving heavy loads safely, reducing manual labour, and increasing overall productivity. Common forklift types are available, each designed to suit specific environments and tasks. By maintaining a smooth flow of goods, forklifts help minimise downtime and ensure that operations remain on schedule, contributing significantly to a business’s success.
Before hiring or purchasing a forklift, it’s crucial to evaluate the unique needs of your operations, including the typical load weight, terrain, and space limitations, to determine the best model for your requirements.
Below, we cover the common types of forklifts, their features, and applications to help you make an informed decision and select the forklift that best meets your needs.
Common forklift types for warehouse
LPG/Gas forklifts
The LPG/Gas forklift is the perfect solution for flexible working conditions. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. This machine utilises a cleaner fuel compared to diesel, not leaving pollution or dirty marks on your workplace.
This forklift has power and performance that exceeds the electric and diesel counterparts, carrying heavy loads with ease and improving the productivity of your warehouse.
Electric counterbalance forklifts
The electric counterbalance forklift is a powerful and environmentally friendly alternative to the LPG engine. It enables you to focus on increasing your workplace productivity whilst having the added peace of mind that your business practices are conscious of the environment.
At Hyworth Forklifts, we have three and four-wheel options, each with its own benefits. The four-wheel option will remain stable, even in uneven and slippery terrain. In contrast, with its tight turning radius, the three-wheel option is best suited for workplaces with smaller, narrow aisles.
Reach truck forklifts
The reach truck forklifts enable operators to manoeuvre heavy loads onto high shelves. It is designed to navigate through narrow aisles while carrying heavy loads.
Reach trucks place the heavy weight of a load up front, while the driving wheel at the back allows for a tighter turning circle and greater manoeuvrability. The high reach enables you to stack your aisles taller and easily move products at any height.
Walk behind forklifts
A walk-behind forklift is designed for confined spaces with excellent lift height and manoeuvrability. They are perfect for navigating narrow aisles as they require less space to operate.
The walkie-stackers do not emit polluted exhaust, leaving less of a carbon footprint. They are essential to every warehouse as they can effortlessly carry heavy products and navigate between the tight aisles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, forklifts play a crucial role in streamlining warehouse and facility operations, enhancing productivity, and ensuring smooth and efficient material handling. From the versatile LPG/Gas forklifts suitable for both indoor and outdoor tasks to the environmentally friendly electric counterbalance forklifts, each type has unique benefits to meet diverse operational needs. Reach truck forklifts are ideal for lifting and stacking heavy loads at higher levels, maximising storage space, while walk-behind forklifts are excellent for navigating narrow aisles in confined areas, providing high manoeuvrability with a lower carbon footprint.
Selecting the right forklift for your business depends on understanding the specific demands of your operational environment and choosing a machine that matches your requirements in terms of performance, sustainability, and versatility. By considering the strengths of each forklift type, you can make an informed choice that supports your business goals, enhances safety, and optimises efficiency.
For expert guidance on finding the perfect forklift solution, reach out to our team at Hyworth Forklifts on 1300 499 678, and let us assist you in identifying the equipment that best fits your operational needs.
