Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks designed to operate in narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle as typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide and this is sufficient space. 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 that are small, capable of tight turns, and able to put away loads without turning. The common kinds of narrow-aisle trucks are order pickers, reach trucks and turret trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the first narrow-aisle lift truck to be developed for warehouse use. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the requirement for a huge counterweight. Instead, stability is provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this particular design is that the outrigger arms could inhibit access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These types of trucks truly work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has even, clean floors, good flow of traffic and ample turning space.
Turret trucks
The design of a turret truck includes forks on the side which pivot. The forks pivot 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load faces forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the truck's forks turn to the storage side and lift 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 very narrow aisles. In man-down trucks, operators remain at floor level.