Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
The type of electric truck that is made to function within narrow aisles is called a Narrow Aisle Lift Truck. Standard storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn within the aisle. However, narrow aisles could be about 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space needs specialized lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, and able to put away loads without turning. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
The very first types of narrow-aisle lift trucks manufactured for warehouse use are the reach trucks. These small trucks could easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms which extend in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These trucks truly work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, enough turning space and good traffic flow.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side that turn. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face 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 next 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. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.