Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate in narrow aisles. Standard storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide, sufficient space for a counterbalanced lift truck to pivot in the aisle. Then again, narrow aisles can be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specific lift truck models which are small, capable of tight turns, can put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be developed for warehouse applications. These small trucks could turn easily within narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms that extend in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks work well in a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, good traffic flow and ample turning space.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design includes forks on the side which turn. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks are available 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.