Counterbalance lifts are one of the most commonly purchased types of forklift among factories, warehouses, distribution centers, retail logistics, and outdoor facilities. Therefore, it’s no surprise that you may be looking into getting one of these pervasive workhorses for your facility.
CLARK has been providing top models of counterbalanced lifts to our customers since 1917. Join us while we discuss these special lifts and give tips on how to choose the best kinds of counterbalance forklifts for your applications.
Understanding Counterbalance Forklifts
If you’ve ever played on a seesaw as a child, you were introduced to the concept of counterbalance. To explain, if you and a friend sat on opposite ends of the seesaw, the weights of you both worked to “counter” and “balance” one another.
A counterbalance forklift works in a similar fashion. These vehicles have two forks in front to carry loads, and a counterbalance in back to compensate for the load’s weight. This design reduces the risk of the vehicle tipping over—while still making them suitable for handling heavy material loads.
Benefits of Using Counterbalance Forklifts
Counterbalance lifts help you reap the following benefits:
- Stability–Counterbalance sit down lifts are designed to safely and reliably keep palletized goods and materials secure—even in busy settings.
- Ergonomics–An ergonomic design promotes comfort, health and well-being. Fortunately, sit down lifts are considered the most comfortable forklift type. They’re made to promote comfort and minimizes ergonomic risk factors like awkward body postures.
- Higher productivity–When used properly and with the proper ergonomics, a counterbalanced sit down forklift increases an operator’s efficiency and productivity.
- Profit–Counterbalance lifts help lower time and effort by reducing time spent for material handling operations. In essence, a lift lowers operating costs by providing a business a more efficient operation. When this benefit is realized, it can help foster profit and future growth for your company.
Categories of Counterbalance Forklifts
Forklifts used today are typically categorized by two fuel options: electric and internal combustion (IC). Conversely, counterbalance lifts all have a sit down design, and it’s why most forklift operators call them “sit down forklifts.” Sit down lifts are also known as the standard forklift in the industry because they are the most widely used.
Read on to find out more information about these two categories of lifts.
Electric Counterbalance Sit Down Lifts
Counterbalanced electric forklifts are powered by large lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion batteries. These sit down vehicles are ideal for using in indoor applications where noise levels and emissions can be safety concerns. In addition, electric forklifts are excellent at maneuvering in tight spaces and handling palletized loads safely and efficiently.
Internal Combustion Sit Down Lifts
Internal combustion forklifts utilize diesel, gasoline, or liquid propane gas to power their engines. They also have a counterbalance design similar to their electric counterparts. Because of their noxious emissions, internal combustion forklifts must be used in adequately ventilated facilities. As an aside, CLARK manufactured the world’s first IC forklift, cementing our legacy as the inventors of the forklift.
Counterbalance vs. Other Types of Forklifts
For more informed decision-making—knowing the main differences and applications of counterbalanced lifts and making comparisons—can greatly help. Then, you’re well on your way to deciding what type of material handling equipment you want.
Common types of forklifts include:
- Pallet jacks–Excellent for horizontal transportation of palletized loads. Manual and electric models are available.
- Narrow aisle forklifts–These offer many advantages, including more storage with less wasted aisle space. One of their main drawbacks—except in the case of turret trucks—are that they have limited lift capacity since they lack a counterweight.
- Reach trucks–These forklift trucks have a reach part that extend and retract forks to put away and pick material. They possess a tight turning radius that allows them to efficiently work in narrow aisles. Reach trucks are suitable for use in dock areas and for applications with lower lift height and shorter travel distances.
- Order pickers–These lifts, also known as cherry pickers, use an aerial work platform to lift operators to a rack or shelf location to pick goods. They are best suited for indoor facilities that utilize high-density storage.
- Turret trucks–These are two forklift trucks in one, combining the functions of a counterbalance lift with an articulated truck. The design is a sit down counterbalance with an articulating mast that can navigate extremely tight spaces. It accomplishes maneuvering through aisles as narrow 7 ft. by turning its forks into a pallet while the rest of the truck doesn’t require being aligned with the shelving.
- Counterbalance forklifts–The most common type of forklift. And of all the forklift types, sit down lifts are a wise choice for handling your material in the majority of cases. That’s because they are suitable for both inside and outside use and have a greater capacity range than most reach trucks. Surprisingly, some models can lift as much as 100,000 lbs.
- Specialty forklifts–These are specially-designed forklifts or forklift attachments added to the vehicle. They are provided by forklift and forklift attachment companies. One example of these special types is carpet poles mounted from the front of the counterbalance forklift to lift carpet. Be cautious with any type of altered forklifts, though. Operators often need special training to use these, and they may reduce the lift’s maximum load capacity.
For more information, ask your Clark forklift dealer about any forklift attachments you are considering for your operations.
Safety Features to Look For in Counterbalance Forklifts
Safety is one of the most critical factors in an operation. As such, it pays to make sure you have the following for safe operation and avoiding accidents:
- Clear visibility–To avoid nasty collisions, forklift operators should have clear visibility while driving. Mast types have varying levels of visibility, so be sure to work with your forklift supplier to choose an acceptable level for your needs.
- Standard features–All standard features such as wide-angle mirrors, steering wheel, headlights, seatbelts, and brakes on a lift should be well-maintained and in good condition.
- Auditory aids–Horns should be loud and clear enough to signal proximity. and Backup alarms should be audible enough to alert others that the lift is backing
- Fork stability safeguards–These are mechanisms that prevent forks from accidental misalignment or disengagement.
- Overhead guard–A good protective overhead guard is a must-have. It works as a shield to protect forklift drivers from falling objects.
- Danger, Warning and Caution Labels–OSHA states that “safety labels should be clearly visible to the operator and must be replaced if missing, damaged, or illegible.” Therefore, forklifts must have legible safety labels and nameplates on them.
Other Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Counterbalance Forklift:
- Load capacity–To invest in the right model of sit down, you need to know the maximum weight of the load the counterbalance will be handling. Heavy loads can tip the truck forward, so choose wisely.
- Load capacity indicators–These tools display the current load weight— helping prevent exceeding the forklift’s capacity.
- Ease of use–Look for features that make the forklift as user-friendly for the operator as possible include:
- Intuitive and easy-to-reach controls.
- A stable counterweight design.
- Mast that matches lifting height and load center.
- Tire material–The right tire material used typically depends on the environment the lift will be used.
- Pneumatic tires–Mainly used outdoors because of their durability, they are filled with air or are solid rubber.
- Cushion tires–Used for indoor applications in compact spaces, cushion tires are solid rubber molded to a steel band. This configuration is mounted to the hub.
- Bespoke tires–These are tires with a custom design for special handling requirements. For instance, non-marking tires are used in workplaces that don’t permit cross-contamination.
- Tire type–Sit down lifts come in 3 and 4-wheel versions. Counterbalanced lifts with 3 wheels have a lower turning radius, making them suited to operate in tight spaces. Their maneuverability is also superior to 4-wheel forklifts.
- Fork height– Defined as the height to which the forks can be raised once the mast is extended to its maximum reach. With the masts extended to the full height, the forklift can reach about 165 to 175 inches, which translates to 13.5 to 14.5 feet.
- Mast type–The mast is part of the forklift’s system that does the work of tilting, raising and lowering loads. The three stage is the most popular pick, due to its versatility.
- Warehouse mirrors–While not on the lift itself, you can install jumbo convex and full-dome safety mirrors strategically in the facility to improve the forklift operator’s visibility.
Evaluating Your Business Needs
So, you’ve read to here and are even more determined to purchase a counterbalance lift. We’re glad to hear it as that’s an excellent choice! That said, going forward and choosing the right counterbalance for your business applications is a daunting task, even if you’ve purchased material handling equipment before. Matching the right type of forklift to your business’s needs cannot be understated. Plus, you may leave money on the table if you choose an option and there’s a better selection out there.
That’s where CLARK come in. Our forklift experts have been helping businesses with their material handling needs for over 100 years. At CLARK, you can find lifts like the S20-35, C15C, C60-80 and more in diesel, gasoline, and dual fuel models. All models we carry are made to elevate your business to new levels.
A trained forklift dealer can help you find the perfect forklift by:
Evaluating your operation to determine whether counterbalance lift trucks are right for your individual application.
- Helping you with the selection of alternative material handling equipment if your needs call for it. For instance, if your warehouse has very narrow aisles, you may benefit from a narrow aisle lift.
- Assisting you in deciding whether a new and gently used sit down lift model is better for your budget.
Working with you to determine the load capacity for your counterbalance. Heavy loads will need a high capacity model–while lighter loads can call for a low capacity model.
- Recommending forklift upgrades as your facility needs change. You could, for example, acquire forklifts with more capacity, higher lift range, or narrow aisle capabilities.
- Determining if you need a new or gently used counterbalance forklift.
- And much, much more!
CLARK Material Handling: Makers of Top Models of Counterbalance Forklifts
CLARK is dedicated to making the highest quality material handling equipment that is safe, reliable, and built to last. Additionally, we are also leader in manufacturing high-quality models of counterbalance forklifts. We have built a reputation of supplying the best sit down lifts in the market to customers in industries such as warehouse & distribution, food & beverage, freight & logistics, and heavy industry.
For assistance in determining which counterbalance truck works best for your specific needs, contact your local CLARK dealer for a quote today. Our sit down lifts are designed with the operator and your company in mind. We work hard to increase your bottom line by increasing storage space, decreasing downtime due to maintenance needs, and increasing operator comfort.
