Haarukkatrukit

Haarukkatrukit, or forklifts, are mobile lifting and material handling machines used to lift and transport loads on pallets over short distances in warehouses, factories, and distribution centers. They consist of a counterbalanced chassis, a vertical mast, a hydraulic lifting mechanism, and a fork carriage with two tines that slide under a load. The operator controls elevation, tilting, and fork positioning from a cab or open operator area. Power sources include internal combustion engines (gasoline, diesel, or propane) and electric batteries, with some models offering hybrid options. Typical load capacities for standard counterbalanced trucks range from about 1 to 5 tonnes, while heavy-duty variants and reach trucks can handle much larger loads.

Common variants include counterbalanced forklifts for general use; reach trucks and order pickers designed for narrow aisles; rough-terrain forklifts for outdoors or uneven surfaces; and pallet trucks, which can be manual or electric, for short-distance pallet movement. Attachments such as fork extensions, side shifters, and fork positioners increase versatility.

Safety and regulation: operation typically requires formal training and certification, with ongoing refreshers. Daily pre-use inspections, regular maintenance, and adherence to load limits and speed restrictions are essential. Modern forklifts include safety features such as an overhead guard, load backrest, seatbelts, speed controls, and stability monitoring.

Haarukkatrukit play a central role in material handling and logistics, enabling efficient short-range lifting and transport when operated and maintained in accordance with applicable safety standards.