Counterbalance forklifts are essentially lift trucks that are designed with counterweight at the rear of the machinery. The counterweight works to balance the weight which the tines are carrying at the front of the load. This design is engineered to stabilize traditional forklifts. As far as electric counterbalance forklifts are concerned, the counterweight is formed by the battery itself.

Counterbalance lift trucks can often be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are typically manufactured in a range of configurations and sizes, utilizing a range of fuel sources. These lift trucks can with solid or pneumatic tires. They are capable of working in various applications. These lift trucks are outfitted with a variety of accessories. Common options and attachments include: hydraulic clamps, side shifts, slip sheet attachments and fork shifts just to name a few.

The counterbalance forklift has in fact changed the entire industry of material handling. These machines are essential to the shipping and receiving centers all-around the world since they are used for loading, stacking, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The standard warehouse lift trucks are normally used for lift heights under 6 meters or 20 feet. There have been some models recently designed that can lift to heights 9.5 meters or 31 feet. The smaller 1-1.8 ton or 4000 lbs. forklifts are the main workhorses inside the majority of warehouses. These are the most popular models which most small companies will own. The standard warehouse counterbalance forklift is really a wide-aisle truck that requires about 11 feet or 3 meters to turn in.

Additionally, the counterbalanced lift truck is not necessarily limited to warehouse environments. They are usually utilized for heavy use and container carrying along with basically every application in between. Counterbalance forklifts are the most widely used and versatile of all materials handling machinery.

The counterbalanced forklift is common in many working environments, like retail, warehousing and production. This is due to their durability and versatility. Several of the industrial applications include: timber, automotive, food and chemical industries.