Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn within the aisle as typical storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide and this is adequate space. Nevertheless, narrow aisles could be around 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specific lift truck models that are capable of tight turns, small, and able to put away loads without pivoting. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The first kinds of narrow-aisle lift trucks developed for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks could turn without difficulty in narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the need for a large counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack since the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks really work well within a warehouse that is well lit, has even, clean floors, good flow of traffic and enough space for turning.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has pivoting forks on side of the truck. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once stopped at the designated storage place, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily 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 really narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.