Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle since typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Then again, narrow aisles can be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area requires specific lift truck models that are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without pivoting. The common 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 manufactured for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn without difficulty in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and ample turning space.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side which pivot. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks could come with a wire guidance system that keeps the truck on its path in really narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.