You will discover a variety of different means which lower or raise lifts on a lift truck: scissors lifts, rack and pinion lifts, telescoping lifts, screw lifts and articulated lifts. Scissor lifts use crisscrossed folding supports and 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 raise the load. The telescoping lift mechanism is made with many sections which retract and extend into and out of each other to achieve lifting action. Screw lifts utilize threads to raise the lift. Articulated lifts use a mechanism involving many 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 innovations in material handling processes. Material handling methods and the tools can be utilized to deal with increased geographical coverage, additional SKUs, and the requirement to lower inventories. Tools which are well ahead of the technological curve can help maximize efficiency and increase effectiveness.
Lift truck Battery & Charging Technology
The latest innovations on electric forklifts have yielded higher capacities and longer run-times than ever before, which makes the decision to convert from the traditional IC forklift over to the improved electric models. Charger and battery combinations are providing more power for longer periods than older systems were capable of achieving. Improvements in charger and battery technologies are not just making electric lift trucks more productive but they are making it possible to have warehouse operations that are more environmentally friendly.
These new batteries are called Lithium-Ion Batteries or Li-ion batteries. This technology is still somewhat new, but Li-ion batteries show incredible promise. They are not only smaller but could hold up to six times the charge of traditional lead acid batteries. Li-ion batteries have really low maintenance needs and are able to maximize opportunity charging through zero memory technology.