What is an Articulated Forklift?

Articulated forklifts are incredibly versatile pieces of material handling equipment. An Aisle-Master forklift is a great example of an articulated forklift, allowing warehouse owners to benefit from additional space without compromising on productivity, efficiency or performance. But that doesn’t really answer the question of what an articulated forklift actually is. In this article, we’ll take you through what an articulated forklift is, their history and how they can help you in your warehouse.

What is an articulated forklift?

An articulated forklift is unlike any other forklift or reach truck on the market as it provides the operator with the uninterrupted ability to perform all warehouse applications in even the narrowest of aisles. Essentially, an articulated forklift is a seamless hybrid between a very narrow aisle (VNA) forklift and a counterbalance machine.

They are perfect for warehouses that are fast-paced but that work with an impressive range of products and stock of a varying nature. These days, very few warehouses, regardless of how small or large the premises are, will be able to function adequately without the implementation of an articulated forklift truck.

The history of articulated forklifts

According to 4K, it is thought that Freddy Brown, an accomplished inventor, conjured up the concept of an articulated forklift. He had designed the world’s first man-up order picker and pallet placer by the late 1960’s, so he already had a wealth of experience and knowledge when it came to the design and manufacture of material handling equipment.

The first articulated forklift truck was manufactured in 1982 and it was also a rear-wheel drive and Brown made sure it was patented as soon as it hit the production line. The articulated forklift became so popular in its first twenty years that Brown received an award from the Forklift Truck Association and the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2003, claims NEBCO. The material handling industry hasn’t looked back since.

What problems can articulated forklifts solve?

You might already have a range of different forklifts implemented throughout your warehouse, so how could you benefit from an articulated forklift? There are several problems that an articulated forklift can solve throughout the warehouse, mainly down to their compact size and impressive, unwavering performance. So what problems can an articulated forklift solve in and around your warehouse?

• They can operate throughout narrow aisles and tight spaces – articulated forklifts have the capacity to perform an extensive range of warehouse tasks, regardless of how narrow your aisles are or how small the space is that they have to work in
• They can reach impressive heights – articulated forklifts can reach even the tallest of warehouse racking, so no shelving is too high for an articulated forklift to access, load and/or unload
• They can be used both inside and outdoors – there are several fuel types to choose from, including LPG and electric-powered articulated forklifts. This makes them perfect for use both outside and indoors, making them versatile for any warehouse
• They can transport heavy weights – they have an unexpectedly high weight capacity, meaning they’ll be able to make short work of transporting heavy stock in and around your warehouse
• They have a tight turning radius – articulated forklifts are able to turn around the tightest of corners, making it safe for both the operator and pedestrian workers who might be in the vicinity at the time of manoeuvring

Multy Lift has over three decades of experience in the material handling industry, providing customers throughout the UK with high-calibre, robust warehouse equipment, including articulated forklifts. For more information about the new and used forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet trucks and other pieces of material handling machinery we have available, then get in touch with a member of our expert team today – we’re also pleased to provide industrial cleaning equipment as well as warehouse equipment hire and forklift hire.