Reach Forklifts
Space is usually at a premium in nearly all distribution facilities or warehouse environments. The less space needed for aisles in which to utilize equipment, the more space overall you will have to store goods and products. Thus, particular machine has been designed to be used in extremely narrow aisles so that efficiency and space could be maximized.
Reach Trucks
The specialized reach lift truck has a mast that extends away from the forklifts body. Normally, it is attached with a scissor mechanism. When the scissor is drawn in or compacted, the forklift becomes a lot narrower that the standard forklift.
Operator Position
Reach trucks are designed so the operator can stand while in operation of the machine. This is a contrast to the typical lift truck where the operator is normally sitting. The standing operation area reduces the amount of room required for the operator compartment, enabling the equipment to achieve an even smaller profile overall.
Space Saving
Aisle-ways can be made as narrow as 7 feet with a reach truck. The majority of typical lift trucks require a minimum aisle space of about 11 feet; hence, utilizing a reach truck provides around a savings of 5 feet on each aisle. When renting a warehouse on a square foot basis, this is a significant amount of space.
Unique Controls
A reach truck is normally steered using a rotating lever which is located on a platform beside the operator. There is a different lever used to control forward and reverse, the mast as well as for extending the mast. These controls are somewhat different than regular forklift controls.
Load Capacity
The reach truck will normally have a load capacity less than regular forklifts. This is largely because of the narrow design of the equipment, which can cause a really high center of gravity. When the mast is fully extended and the load is lifted, this is actually true.