Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck could turn within the aisle since typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is adequate space. Nonetheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific kinds of lift trucks that are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without turning. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn without problems within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get near enough. These types of trucks work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough space for turning and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side that pivot. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.