Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle since typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is sufficient space. Nevertheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific lift truck models which are small, capable of tight turns, and able to put away loads without turning. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a large counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks truly work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, ample space for turning and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then smoothly 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 very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.