There are actually a range of different ways which raise or lower lifts on a lift truck: rack and pinion lifts, scissor lifts, telescoping lifts, screw lifts and articulated lifts. Scissor lifts employ crisscrossed folding supports with a screw system utilized to draw the members together. Rack and pinion lifts utilize a pinion, which is a small drive gear, to drive a straight-toothed rack to lift the load. The telescoping lift mechanism is made with many parts which retract and extend out of and into each other to attain lifting action. Screw lifts utilize threads to raise the lift. Articulated lifts utilize a system that involves multiple sections which articulate or unfold. An example of an articulated lift is the "cherry picker."
Forklift Material Handling
There are numerous reasons to keep up with changes in material handling methods. Material handling processes and the machines can be used to handle more SKUs, increased geographical coverage, and the need to lower inventories. Machines which are well ahead of the technological curve can help maximize productivity and increase profitability.
Lift truck Battery & Charging Technology
The choice to convert from conventional, IC forklifts to electric lift trucks is a smart one as the newest line-ups of electric lift trucks provide higher capacities and longer run-times than ever before. Charger and battery combinations are offering much more power for longer periods than older systems can achieve. Improvements in both battery and charger technologies are not only making electric forklifts more beneficial but they are making it possible to have more environmentally friendly warehouse operations.
The electric powered machinery utilize Li-ion batteries or Lithium-Ion batteries. The Li-ion batteries show incredible promise, but this technology is still quite new. They are not just smaller but can hold up to six times the charge of conventional lead acid batteries. Li-ion batteries have extremely low maintenance requirements and could maximize opportunity charging through zero memory technology.