Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to function in narrow aisles. Standard storage aisles are just 3.6 meters wide, enough space for a counterbalanced lift truck to turn in the aisle. However, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow area needs specific lift truck models which are capable of tight turns, small, can put away loads without pivoting. The popular kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are reach trucks, turret trucks and orderpickers.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks can turn easily within narrow aisles since their design has eliminated the requirement for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms can inhibit access to the storage rack because the truck cannot get near enough. These trucks work well inside a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, enough space for turning and good flow of traffic.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design includes forks on the side which pivot. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. Once it stops at the designated storage place, the truck's forks pivot 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 can come with a wire guidance system which keeps the truck on its path in very narrow aisles. Operators remain at floor level in man-down trucks.