Reach Forklifts
Space is usually at a premium in most distribution facilities or warehouse environments. The less space needed for aisles in which to operate machines, the more room overall you will have to store goods and products. For this reason, particular equipment has been designed to be used in extremely narrow aisles to be able to maximize space and efficiency.
Reach Trucks
A reach forklift is a specialized piece of equipment which has a mast which extends away from the forklift's body. It often is attached with a scissor mechanism. When the scissor is compacted or drawn in, the forklift becomes a lot narrower that the standard forklift.
Operator Position
Reach trucks are designed so the driver can stand while in operation of the equipment. This is a contrast to the regular forklift where the operator is usually sitting. The standing operation area reduces the amount of room required for the operator compartment, allowing the equipment to accomplish an even smaller profile overall.
Space Saving
With a reach truck, aisles could be made as narrow as 7 feet. Most standard forklifts require a minimum aisle space of about 11 feet; therefore, utilizing a reach truck gives about a savings of 5 feet per aisle. When the warehouse is leased by the square foot basis, this is a significant amount of space.
Unique Controls
A reach truck is normally steered utilizing a rotating lever that is located on a platform beside the driver. There is one more lever used to control reverse and forward, the mast and for extending the mast. These controls are somewhat different compared to standard forklift controls.
Load Capacity
The reach truck will usually have a load capacity less than regular forklifts. This is largely because of the narrow design of the equipment, that can cause a very high center of gravity. When the load is raised and the mast is extended fully, this is particularly true.