Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function within narrow aisles. Standard storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. However, narrow aisles can be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specific lift truck models that are capable of tight turns, small, could put away loads without pivoting. The popular types 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 can easily turn in narrow aisles as their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks really work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has clean, even floors, good flow of traffic and enough turning space.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward whilst the operator drives down the aisle. When it stops at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck pivot to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and next smoothly 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.