Forklifts: Types and Their Uses

Forklift

Forklifts are an essential and powerful tool for builders while managing heavy things at a construction site, transferring massive boxes in a warehouse, or storing heavy loads in a storage facility. 

A forklift truck is the most important investment you can make for these purposes where you need to lift heavy objects that people cannot safely do. 

There is an extensive range of forklifts available on the market that varies based on models, styles and purpose. 

Forklifts are quite expensive, and so it’s a good idea for construction companies to rent them via forklift rentals available in Malaysia whenever they are required. 

To rent the most suitable forklift for your business, familiarize yourself with the following common types of forklifts:   

 

1. Warehouse Forklifts

The warehouse forklift is the most commonly used type of forklift in indoor warehouses. It has similarities with a golf cart with twin forks coming out of its front body. 

Companies that have a large number of items in their warehouses and have to manage massive warehouses usually use warehouse forklifts as they are good for loading and unloading heavy objects. 

Different types of warehouse forklifts are available that can run on electricity, diesel or propane. Moreover, side loader and counterbalance forklifts are also sub-types of the warehouse forklift.  

2. Telescope Handler Forklifts

They are also called telescopic forklifts or reach forklifts. The main feature of the telescope handler forklift is to lift loads from the ground to higher elevations. They have a boom and an extendable arm that make them a combination of a crane and forklift. 

Twin forks are used to shift pellets from the ground. A typical reach forklift can lift 5,5000 lbs. of weight from the ground to up to 19 ft. in the air. Such forklifts are very helpful in dealing with congested space and abnormal angles. 

They are also useful in the agricultural sector. The demand for telescope handler forklifts is very high, and the latest models like JLG 1644 are available at many forklift rentals in Malaysia.

3. Rough Terrain Forklifts

The purpose of rough terrain forklifts, also known as straight mast forklifts, is to deal with free job sites that have uneven and rocky surfaces. These trucks use strong and inflatable tires with thick threads that give them stability on a rough ground surface. 

They also have stronger engines that give them the power to operate more efficiently and reach greater speeds and transport heavy loads through uneven ground. Most rough terrain forklifts can move 6,000 – 8,000 lbs. 

The counterbalance at the back of these trucks is calibrated to minimize overbalancing. Some newer models can easily be operated on ice, snow and muddy surfaces.

4. Pallet Jacks

Pallet jacks are very compact forklifts that can be operated manually or with the help of batteries. They are also known as pump trucks. They cannot lift huge loads because they are small in size. 

The primary function of pallet jacks is to move pallets in constricted spaces and over vast distances. They have a small footprint that allows the jacks to fit into tight spaces. The rental cost of pallet jacks at forklift rental in Johor Bahru is much lower than that of other types of forklifts.

5. Walkie Stackers

Walkie stackers perform the particular function of manoeuvring pallets to higher places than simple pallet jacks. Other types of forklifts have cabs, but the walkie stackers are designed in a way that the operator has to walk behind the stacker using an attached handle. 

Compared to a pallet jack, walkie stackers have less speed and manoeuvrability. Nevertheless, such forklifts are the most efficient when you need to lift objects to a very high point.

6. Order Picker

The order picker is a subtype of the walkie stacker. It is used to pick loads from warehouses and deliver them. They can reach 32 feet of heights and are designed to reach warehouse racks quite easily. 

Instead of picking entire pallets, they can pick specific units that have made them the most suitable type of forklifts to be used in warehouses. Different designs of order pickers are available, which can handle objects of varying sizes, designs and types.

The Bottom Line

As seen from the above, there are numerous types of forklifts for different businesses and functions. Whenever you want to buy or rent a forklift, you should consider your requirements, such as how much weight you want to lift, the type of ground site, the height of the space and the fuel type of the forklift. 

Forklift rentals in Malaysia have experts to assess such requirements and make recommendations for choosing the best type of forklift for your company. For more information, feel free to get in touch with us.