The counterbalanced forklift is a lift truck which uses a counter balance which is attached to the back end of the machine. This counterbalance effectively balances loads which are positioned on the forks at the front end of the machinery. This particular design is engineered to stabilize typical lift trucks. When it comes to electric counterbalance forklifts, the battery itself forms the counterweight.

Practically every forklift manufacturer would have in their product range, a counterbalance lift truck. These machines would come in a wide range of fuel sources, configurations, and sizes. These lift trucks can be designed with 3 or 4 wheels, or be outfitted. They are capable of working in various applications. These types of lift trucks are equipped with various kinds of accessories. Common attachments and options include: hydraulic clamps, side shifts, fork shifts and slip sheet attachments just to name a few.

The counterbalance forklift has in fact changed the whole business of material handling. These equipment are important to the shipping and receiving centers all-around the globe because they are utilized for loading, stacking, unloading and horizontal transport functions. The standard warehouse forklifts are normally utilized for lift heights under 20 feet or 6 meters. There have been some recently designed units which are capable of lifting to heights 9.5 meters or 31 feet. The smaller 4000 lbs. or 1-1.8 ton forklifts are the main workhorses inside the majority of warehouses. These are the most popular units which most small companies would have. The standard warehouse counterbalance forklift is actually a wide-aisle truck that needs approximately 3 meters or 11 feet to turn in.

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

The counterbalanced forklift is common in numerous working environments, such as production, retail and warehousing. This is because of their durability and versatility. Several of the industrial applications include: food, chemical, automotive and timber industries.