Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function within narrow aisles. Standard storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide, adequate space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. Nevertheless, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specialized types of lift trucks which are small, capable of tight turns, 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 first kinds of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks could easily turn within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a huge counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, ample turning space and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck consists of forks on the side which pivot. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When it stops at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then 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 very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.