Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks
Narrow Aisle Lift Trucks are electric trucks made to operate within narrow aisles. A counterbalanced lift truck can turn in the aisle because typical storage aisles are 3.6 meters wide and this is enough space. Nevertheless, narrow aisles could be 2.4 meters wide to as little as 1.8 meters. The narrow space requires specific kinds of lift trucks which are small, capable of tight turns, could put away loads without turning. The popular types of narrow-aisle trucks are turret trucks, order pickers and reach trucks.
Narrow-aisle reach trucks
Reach trucks were the very first narrow-aisle lift truck to be manufactured for warehouse use. These small trucks can easily turn in narrow aisles because their design has eliminated the need for a big counterweight. Stability is instead provided by outrigger arms extending in front of the truck. The downside of this design is that the outrigger arms could hinder access to the storage rack as the truck cannot get close enough. These types of trucks work well within a warehouse which is well lit, has clean, even floors, good traffic flow and ample turning space.
Turret trucks
The turret truck design has turning forks on side of the truck. The forks turn 90 degrees and move from side to side. The load can face forward while the operator drives down the aisle. When stopped at the designated storage location, the forks of the truck turn to the storage side and raise the load to their full extension, and then easily deposit the load before resuming their original position. Turret trucks can come 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.