One can find a variety of different mechanisms that raise or lower lifts on a forklift: scissors lifts, rack and pinion lifts, screw lifts, telescoping lifts and articulated lifts. Scissor lifts utilize crisscrossed folding supports with a screw system utilized to draw the members together. Rack and pinion lifts utilize a pinion, that is a small drive gear, to drive a straight-toothed rack to raise the load. The telescoping lift system is made with many parts which extend and retract out of and into each other to attain lifting action. Screw lifts use threads to raise the lift. Articulated lifts use a mechanism which involves many sections that articulate or unfold. An example of an articulated lift is the "cherry picker."
Forklift Material Handling
There are a lot of reasons to keep up with changes in material handling processes. Material handling machines and the processes can be utilized to deal with increased geographical coverage, more SKUs, and the requirement to lower inventories. Machines which are well ahead of the technological curve can help maximize efficiency and increase profitability.
Forklift Battery & Charging Technology
The decision to convert from conventional, internal combustion forklifts to electric lift trucks is a smart one as the latest series of electric forklifts offer higher capacities and longer run-times than ever before. Battery and charger combinations are offering 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 beneficial but they are making it possible to have more environmentally friendly warehouse operations.
These new batteries are known as Lithium-Ion Batteries or Li-ion batteries. This technology is still somewhat new, but Li-ion batteries show incredible promise. They are not just smaller but could hold up to six times the charge of conventional lead acid batteries. Li-ion batteries have really low maintenance needs and are able to maximize opportunity charging through zero memory technology.