What is a Forklift?

According to Global Market Insight, the forklift market in the world exceeded USD 50 Billion value in the year 2019, an estimate of the total of around 1.5-million-unit forklift was sold. With the rise in the expansion of new warehouse and distribution centers by a leading e-commerce player, it's expected to push the forklift market to grow an estimated 10.6% CAGR from 2020 – 2026. Currently, there is an estimation of 400 forklift manufacturers in the world competing for a piece of cake.

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What is a forklift and why it's so popular?

A forklift also called a lift truck, jitney, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck in different places in the world. Forklifts are one of the most powerful vehicles to lift and move materials over a short distance. Whether you need to move heavy loads in a warehouse or in a construction field and forklifts can safely lift objects humans cannot, making them indispensable on any job site.

A forklift can be classified into 8 class according to International Truck Association (ITA) as follows: 

However, its may look a bit complicated and we will summarize what is the commonly used forklift in Singapore.

Learn 6 Important Tips on How to Choose the Right Forklift.

5 Common Types of Forklift Types 

Since there is a wide selection of styles and models, it can be difficult to select a forklift. Whether you’re looking to rent a forklift for your next project, our guide covers the different forklift types, the benefits of each piece of equipment, and popular forklift models to help choose the right forklift for your needs.

The most popular forklift types used in the Singapore market today are:

1. Warehouse Forklift
2. Telescopic Forklift
3. Industrial Forklift
4. Walkie Stacker
5. Pallet Jack

We shall cover below what each forklift is, what is best suitable used for in any industries, and popular manufacturers and models.

1. Warehouse Forklift

The warehouse forklift is the most recognizable type of lift truck that widely used for the warehouse, storage, and light industry. It resembles a yellow golf cart with twin forks extending from the front. You’ll most often use this forklift in a facility with many items in inventory. These trucks are great for loading and unloading pallets and balanced materials, well as removing and transporting items from delivery vehicles. Mostly warehouse forklift is electrical driven as it's for indoor use. The warehouse forklift capacity can be range from 1 ton to  5 ton.

2. Industrial Forklift

The industrial forklift is also a kind of larger capacity forklift of warehouse forklift. While the functionalities same as warehouse forklifts, their capacity can go up to a maximum lifting capacity of 30 tons. It is normally internal combustion driven, or so-called diesel driven, and largely for heavy industry manufacturing plant, construction, outdoor usage and etc. Compare to warehouse forklifts, industrial forklifts can be used not only on a flat slab but a little bit rough condition surface as well.

3. Telescopic Forklifts

It is also known as “telehandler forklift” or “Cheery Picker”. Telescopic forks are attachments that sit on most other forklift trucks.  The telehandler has a boom and extendable arm, making a combination of a crane and forklift, the twin forks attached to this arm are used to move pallets off the ground. A standard telescopic is capable of lifting up to 2.5 Tonne of materials from up to an estimation of 6 meters in the air, subject to the capacity. The Telescopic forks can be extended through in-cab hydraulics. It can save a lot of time if the operator needs to regularly fit and remove extensions. Telescopic forks are mainly seen in heavy industry and outdoor use such as agriculture, construction, and maintenance. It's not only like an industrial forklift that can move vertically, but the telescopic boom and extend to reach a place on a higher level and further, an unreachable place for normal forklift.

4. Walkie Stacker

Walkie stackers are strange in appearance and specific in utility. Unlike other forklifts, these material handling vehicles don’t have cabs. Instead, the worker walks behind the stacker and steers it by using an attached handle. Like a pallet jack, these units lack power, maneuverability, or speed. However, they are ideal for situations where you need a taller pallet jack. The walkie stacker reaches much higher off the ground than its counterpart. It is commonly used in warehousing.

5. Pallet trucks

Pallet trucks are used to lift or move pallets. It is also known as a pump truck. A pallet truck is the simplest of all types of forklifts. They are used to move loads in a warehouse. It does not have a cabin but has a lever that acts both for steering and as a pump. This is attached to forks that can lift up and down, but in a very very limited range. On the inside of the forks are wheels for movement. The operator walks behind the pallet jack and steers it. These forklifts are not capable of lifting large loads due to their small size. In exchange for power, pallet jacks have a small footprint, allowing them to fit into the tightest spaces and lift small loads in tight quarters. While you sacrifice power and maneuverability, the procuring and renting costs of a pallet jack are much lower. They are used in retail and small warehouses, some use them in the construction site to move materials as well. 

Summary

Of course, there are some other types of forklifts such as container stackers and rough terrain forklifts, which are used for more specific areas in port and very rough conditions.

Nowadays, Forklifts are indispensable in modern industry in regards to construction, oil & gas, warehouse or retails or maintenance site. They have become so versatile that their applications are varied. They can be large or small, powered or manual, and can lift heavy or light loads. Different types of forklifts are used in many different industries. So, which one you need?

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