Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The kind of electric truck that is designed to function in narrow aisles is known as a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle because typical storage aisles are only 3.6 meters wide and this is adequate space. Nonetheless, narrow aisles can be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specialized kinds of lift trucks that are small, capable of tight turns, can put away loads without pivoting. The common types of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse applications are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn without problems within narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The disadvantage of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These kinds of trucks really work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side that pivot. The forks pivot 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 location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load prior to resuming their original position. Turret trucks can 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.