Forklift trucks are important pieces of equipment utilized widely in business, especially within warehouses, distribution centers, industrial and storage handling plants. A lift truck is made of hundreds of components, like the carriage, the cab, the power source, the wheels and the engine. Lift trucks normally have various types of attachments as well. The following are several of the most important parts of a lift truck.
Lift Truck Engine - the lift truck is made with a power source at the rear of the machine. Various kinds of forklift truck have various kinds of engine that need varying power sources. Like for instance, a forklift with an internal combustion engine can have any of the following as its source of power: CNG gas, LP gas, diesel or gasoline. Electric motor forklifts receive their power from fuel cells or a battery.
Truck Frame - the base of the forklift truck and the most important of all the lift truck parts is the truck frame. This forms the core of the machine. All other forklift parts are connected to the base, like the axles, mast, wheels overhead guard and counterweight. Fuel and hydraulic fluid tanks could be part of the frame assembly too.
Counterweight Lift Truck Components - the counterweight is what enables the machine to be balanced while carrying heavy cargo. This part is made of heavy cast iron and is connected to the backend of the lift truck. The counterbalance balances the frame of the truck to prevent it from tipping over when a load is being lifted or carried on the front. The heavy lead-acid battery in an electric forklift offers balance and could work as part of the counterweight.
The Cab Area - this area is where the operator sits and drives the machine. Several forklifts have a cab area that is open to the air and several have closed cabs. There are many components located in the cab for operating the forks. The cab has such important parts like the operator controls, steering wheel, seats, pedals, levers and switches. The dashboard contains operator readouts.