Forklifts & warehouse solutions Toyota Material Handling Europe

Depending on the aisle width, different electric forklift trucks can be used in the warehouse. For the typical narrow aisle warehouse, however, reach trucks or high-bay stackers are still recommended rather than counterbalanced trucks. Founded in 1978, the factory has always been committed to the promotion and application of electric forklifts and internal combustion forklifts. "Energy saving, environmental protection, high efficiency and safety" are the design concepts of UN products. The company occupies an area of 13.2 acres and has an annual production capacity of 10,000 units.

The term "front loader" includes all trucks where the fork carriage or forks are located at the front. In addition, the driver's seat or cab is usually facing the direction of travel. With combustion engine forklifts, a distinction is made between diesel forklifts and gas or LPG forklifts. The latter are operated either with natural gas or liquid gas , depending on the type.

The start of World War II, like World War I before, spurred the use of forklift trucks in the war effort. Following the war, more efficient methods for storing products in warehouses were being implemented. Warehouses needed more maneuverable forklift trucks that could reach greater heights and new forklift models were made that filled this need. For example, in 1954, a British company named Lansing Bagnall, now part of KION Group, developed what was claimed to be the first narrow-aisle electric-reach truck.

However, only the forklift truck manufacturer can give accurate lifting capacities. Forklifts can be re-rated by the manufacturer and have a new specification plate attached to indicate the changed load capacity with the attachment in use. Carton and multipurpose clamp attachments – hydraulic attachments that allow the operator to open and close around a load, squeezing it to pick it up. Products like cartons, boxes and bales can be moved with this type of attachment.

Forklifts were first invented during early part of the 20th century and now had become a vital part of the modern-day industrial world. Forklifts are named after their fork-like prongs that lift up the load. There are two pairs of additional hydraulic cylinders attached to the base of the masts. These are proximity sensors that detect objects and pedestrians from a few centimeters to several meters. The sensor makes the difference between a person and an object and alerts the driver without useless alarms. Based on stereovision, an algorithm analyses on real time if a person is in a blind zone of the forklift.

The development changed the design of warehouses leading to narrower aisles and higher load-stacking that increased storage capability. During the 1950s and 1960s, operator safety became a concern due to the increasing lifting heights and capacities. Safety features such as load backrests and operator cages, called overhead guards, began to be added to forklifts produced in this era. In the late 1980s, ergonomic design began to be incorporated in new forklift designs to improve operator comfort, reduce injuries and increase productivity.