Reach Forklifts
Space is generally at a premium in the majority of distribution facilities or warehouse environments. The less space required for aisles in which to operate machinery, the more room overall you will have for the storage of products and goods. Thus, particular machine has been designed to be utilized in very narrow aisles in order to maximize space and efficiency.
Reach Trucks
The specialized reach forklift has a mast which extends away from the body of the forklift. Usually, it is attached with a scissor mechanism. When the scissor is compacted or drawn in, the forklift becomes a lot narrower compared to the regular forklift.
Operator Position
The majority of reach trucks are designed so that the driver is standing while utilizing the unit. This is a contrast to the typical forklift where the driver is usually sitting. The standing operation area reduces the amount of room needed for the driver compartment, enabling the machinery to achieve an even smaller profile overall.
Space Saving
With a reach truck, aisles could be made as narrow as 7 feet. Most typical lift trucks require a minimum aisle space of about 11 feet; hence, utilizing a reach truck provides approximately a savings of 5 feet on every aisle. When the warehouse is leased by the square foot basis, this is a significant amount of space.
Unique Controls
A reach truck is usually steered utilizing a rotating lever which is located on a platform beside the driver. There is one more lever used to control reverse and forward, the mast and for extending the mast. These controls are quite different than typical forklift controls.
Load Capacity
The reach truck will normally have a load capacity less than regular forklifts. This is largely because of the narrow design of the equipment, which could cause a really high center of gravity. When the mast is extended fully and the load is raised, this is particularly true.