A forklift (also called lift truck, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is an industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. It has a forked platform attached at the front that can be raised and lowered to go under a pallet to lift or move it. Forklifts assist the needs of various industries including warehouses and other large storage facilities.
Forklifts can be powered by an electric battery or by a combustion engine. Some forklifts allow the operator to sit while driving and operating the machine while others require the driver to stand. Forklifts are used throughout many industries for transporting materials and goods.
While there are some benefits to forklift trucks when it comes to material handling equipment, the cons far outweigh the benefits you would gain from using an electric tugger. Let’s look at some of the common uses for a forklift.
Common Uses Include:
- Moving palleted goods across flat areas
- Loading trucks and shelving
- Lifting and stacking large items
Cons of a Forklift
- They are large and require a bigger area to accommodate the turning radius
- They are expensive, starting at around $25,000
- They require a licensed driver to operate
- Voltage requirements may be an issue with older facilities
- They are not always emissions-free
Consider implementing an electric tugger into your operation. It outperforms a forklift when comparing it to the cons.
A pallet jack is a wheeled lift truck designed to raise and transport pallets. The truck's tapered forks slide underneath the pallet and a handle pump is used to raise and lower the load. These are typically backup options for a forklift because they are less expensive.
Common Uses of Pallet Jacks Include:
- Moving small loads short distances
- Managing basic material handling tasks
- General manual handling
Cons of Electric Pallet Jacks
- Requires manual handling which increases the risk of injury
- They typically have a maximum standard lifting limit of 5,500 LBS
- They are restricted to only palletized loads
SmartMover
Up to 4,400 lbs.
Easily move wheeled loads weighing up to 4,400 lbs. with the SmartMover range.
MasterTow
Up to 44,000 lbs.
The MasterTow range of powerful, easy-to-use electric tow tugs, is ideally suited to towing loads weighing up to 44,000 lbs.
MasterTug
Up to 44,000 lbs.
The MasterTug range delivers unrivaled maneuverability when moving heavy-wheeled loads weighing up to 44,000 lbs.
Stainless Steel
Up to 33,000 lbs.
The Stainless Steel range of electric tuggers delivers the same level of performance as our steel ranges but with the added benefit of seamlessly ...