Reach Forklifts
Space is generally at a premium in nearly all distribution centers or warehouse settings. The less space needed for aisles in which to use equipment, the more room overall you will have to store goods and products. Hence, specialized machine has been designed to be used in really narrow aisles so that space and efficiency could be maximized.
Reach Trucks
The specialized reach forklift has a mast which extends away from the body of the forklift. It often is attached with a scissor mechanism. When the scissor is drawn in or compacted, the forklift becomes much narrower compared to the regular forklift.
Operator Position
Reach trucks are designed so the operator can stand while in operation of the equipment. This is a contrast to the standard forklift where the driver is usually sitting. The standing operation area lessens the amount of room needed for the operator compartment, allowing the equipment to achieve an even smaller profile overall.
Space Saving
With a reach truck, aisles could be made as narrow as 7 feet. The majority of standard lift trucks require a minimum aisle space of around 11 feet; hence, utilizing a reach truck gives about a savings of 5 feet per aisle. When renting a warehouse on a square foot basis, this is a large amount of space.
Unique Controls
A reach truck is normally steered using a rotating lever that is located on a platform beside the driver. There is one more lever used to control reverse and forward, the mast and for extending the mast. These controls are quite different compared to standard forklift controls.
Load Capacity
The reach truck would normally have a load capacity less than standard forklifts. This is mainly due to the narrow design of the machinery, that can lead to a very high center of gravity. When the mast is fully extended and the load is raised, this is actually true.