Narrow Aisle Forklifts
Some lift trucks are specially made to fit down very narrow aisles in a warehouse. These models are known as narrow aisle forklifts. They could easily negotiate smaller aisles and allow you to enjoy some benefits. For example, the increased amount of area to store things could greatly increase a company's overall available stock.
The narrow aisle forklift is manufactured to maneuver rather easily, as they are engineered specially to operate in tight areas. Their different design has eliminated many of the things which are squished up into the design of the traditional lift truck's main body.
The downside of narrow aisle forklifts is that they are very slow in comparison to standard lift trucks. Narrow aisle lift trucks would not work if you have to move objects across long distances. In terms of speed they would not be a dependable choice. If you also have a standard forklift, this would not be a problem. You could just use the narrow aisle lift truck to move the load to a central location and after that hand it off to a standard lift truck that can travel the bulk of the distance in an efficient and timely way. Usually, narrow aisle lift trucks cannot handle as much lifting weight; thus, outside of smaller loads they are not going to be very effective.
Electric Lift Trucks
Traditional gas forklifts are not a suitable choice for indoor applications such as stores or warehouses. They would not be as safe due to their fumes, or as cost-efficient or helpful compared to an electric powered model. Electric lift trucks are often designed to work and look a lot like gas ones, but they depend on electric batteries which must be recharged, rather than gasoline fuel.
Electric lift trucks are common for a variety of reasons. For starters, they will save you a lot of money on fuel expenses. Initially, electric models might cost more but eventually, they make up for this in the long run. For example, when gas prices increase, you will save a lot of cash since you would not be affected. Electric models tend to last quite a bit longer compared to gas powered models also. This is partially because of the fact they are mainly utilized indoors and therefore don't get as dirty or work in as harsh environments as the gas powered units. Electric units are healthier to use in places which are badly ventilated such as warehouses and indoor operations as they don't emit noxious fumes. It can be extremely dangerous to use diesel or gas lift trucks inside.
One of the main disadvantages to electric lift trucks is the fact they could usually only work for one 8 hour shift before the battery has to be charged for another shift. Numerous businesses get around this condition by purchasing an extra battery so they can have less downtime and continually cycle them. There are fast charge batteries available on the market which are also minimizing the charging time.