Counterbalance forklifts are basically lift trucks that are designed with counterweight at the rear of the machinery. The counterweight works to balance the weight that the forks are carrying at the front of the cargo. This design is engineered to stabilize typical forklifts. When it comes to electric counterbalance forklifts, the battery itself forms the counterweight.

Counterbalance lift trucks can often be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are usually manufactured in a variety of configurations and sizes, utilizing a range of fuel sources. These forklifts could be designed with 3 or 4 wheels, or be fitted. They are capable of working in various applications. These types of forklifts are outfitted with various types of accessories. Common attachments and options comprise: side shifts, hydraulic clamps, fork shifts and slip sheet attachments just to mention some items.

Counterbalance lift trucks have revolutionized the material handling business. They have become the cornerstone of storage and distribution systems where they perform stacking, loading, unloading and horizontal transport functions. The standard warehouse forklifts are typically used for lift heights under 6 meters or 20 feet. There have been some recently designed units which could lift to heights 31 feet or 9.5 meters. The smaller 1-1.8 ton or 4000 pound forklifts are the main workhorses in the majority of warehouses. These are the most popular models which the majority of small businesses would own. The standard warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck that requires around 11 feet or 3 meters to turn in.

Counterbalance forklifts are not necessarily limited to the warehouse. They are normally utilized for carrying containers and heavy use along with pretty much every application in between. Counterbalance lift trucks are the most versatile and widely used of all materials handling machines.

The counterbalanced forklift is common in numerous working environments, like warehousing, production and retail. This is because of their durability and versatility. Some of the industrial use comprise: food, chemical, timber and automotive industries.