Propane cylinders are designed to take up really little space and can be kept inside the storage area or in an outdoor facility. It does take some time to switch out a propane cylinder, though, it still does requires operator training in order to be performed safely and also need knowledge of safety standards such as the OSHA or Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Compared to the electric lift truck, internal combustion forklifts are easier and faster to refuel. However, the IC engine does create polluting emissions and are really noisy.
NARROW-AISLE LIFT TRUCKS
The ITA's Class 2 trucks consist of a large array of electric forklifts and these are particularly made to be used in narrow aisles. The typical storage aisles are 12 feet wide, and this easily allows a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle and put a load away. Typically, narrow aisles are 8 feet wide, while the very narrow aisles are about 5.5 to 6 feet wide. These narrow aisles require specialized forklifts which are capable of putting away loads that are small enough to turn on a tight radius or without any turning at all.
The three most common narrow aisle forklifts are the order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks. The differences amongst these lift trucks are discussed below.
Narrow-Aisle Reach Trucks
The original narrow-aisle forklift is considered to be the traditional reach truck. These machines do not need a huge counterweight and are thus, small enough to turn in narrow aisles. Instead, stability is provided by the outrigger arms that extend in front of the trucks. Nevertheless, these outrigger arms could prevent the lift trucks from getting close enough to the storage rack to retrieve and deposit cargo, depending on the storage configuration. In order to overcome this particular situation, a pantograph was designed. The pantograph is really a reach truck which is made with a telescoping device. This allows forks to reach into storage locations easily and concisely.
The ideal environment for a narrow-aisle lift truck is a place which is clean, has good lighting, and has good traffic flow, well-maintained floors, as well as an ample turning aisle.
These kinds of machines have changed the material handling business. Toyota stands behind their commitment to giving extremely durable machines and exceptional quality. As the business changes, they always strive to implement solutions so as to offer their diverse customer base with the best available products.