Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks designed to function within narrow aisles. Typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, sufficient space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn within the aisle. Nonetheless, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specialized lift truck models which are small, capable of tight turns, could put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks can turn without difficulty in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough turning space and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load could face forward whilst 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 lift the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.