Are you buying a forklift for the first time? Are you unsure what all the different names and types are? You’re not alone. One of the most common questions we get as forklift specialists in New Zealand is this: What are the different types of forklifts you can buy? Well, the short answer is there are a lot. So, here’s a quick guide to the main types of forklifts and what they are used for.
Warehouse Forklifts
We start with the most common variety. Warehouse forklifts are indoor machines with forks at the front of the cab, the place where the driver sits. These can be found in warehouses and third-party logistics (3PL) storage facilities, and some of them can take up to 5 tonnes of weight.
Uses: Lifting and stacking pallets in warehouses and other storage facilities; moving objects from a truck or container
Side Loader Forklifts
These are forklifts where the load is placed on the side of the cab rather than the front. Compared to regular warehouse forklifts, you get two main advantages: first, you can easily manoeuvre in the narrow aisles of your storage facility; and second, you can easily move objects that are longer in size, especially through entrances.
Uses: In factories producing large objects, lumber yards, etc.
Counterbalance Forklifts
These forklifts are named so because they are heavy at the back, so as to enable the machine to lift heavy loads placed on the forks in the front. They are built to lift weights heavier than those that warehouse forklifts take. There are multiple types of counterbalance forklifts, including a 3-wheeled version which allows for easy turning.
Uses: For heavier loads in warehouses and loading docks
Rough Terrain / Outdoor Forklifts
Many projects and industries call for forklifts that can be operated on uneven terrain. These outdoor forklifts have threaded pneumatic tyres, which offer better grip than those that are built for indoor use.
Uses: For a range of outdoor jobs and at construction sites
Industrial / Heavy-Duty Forklifts
These big fellas are variants of outdoor forklifts but designed for carrying extremely heavy palleted payloads like steel beams, precast concrete, rocks, etc. They can also lift objects higher than regular warehouse forklifts. And like rough terrain forklifts, these large-capacity forklift trucks also have pneumatic tyres, which provide the traction needed in these environments.
Uses: In construction, heavy industries and lumber yards
Walkie Stackers, Order Pickers & Pallet Jacks
The warehousing industry often requires a few specific equipment for material handling and access. The humble pallet jack allows easy transportation of goods; the walkie stacker helps stack objects, especially in places where a pallet jack can’t reach; and the order picker goes even higher to let an employee check and collect objects from a high shelf. All these are perfect for the narrow aisles of storage facilities.
Uses: Basic pallet picking and transportation or reaching the higher ground in warehouses for assorted consumer goods
Check out our range of warehousing equipment from Hangcha.
Narrow Aisle Forklifts
In warehousing and storage facilities, space is at a premium. With the right equipment, you can maximise your existing infrastructure to accommodate more products and retrieve them as and when required. This is where narrow aisle forklifts come in handy. These machines have a swivel front that can load and unload pallets without you having to turn the entire forklift; plus, they can also reach the upper shelves with ease. Hence, they bring in the best features of both warehouse forklifts and reach forklifts.
Uses: Order picking and storage in warehouses & facilities with aisles as narrow as 1.6m
Reach Forklifts
These forklifts have forks or arms that can reach the very top shelves at your storage facility. They are built for indoor use and usually have a design that lets the operator or driver see the shelves clearly from the cab.
Uses: For picking pallets in warehouses and storage facilities with high shelving
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but if you are in the market to find a machine for your specific needs, this should help you narrow down your search. If you have questions about what kind of forklifts in NZ would suit your needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
As one of the country’s top forklift companies, we live and breathe these machines. We house established names like Hangcha, Combilift and Aisle-Master, and our team would love to help you find the right equipment that works for you, whether you want to buy or rent a forklift.