Counterbalance forklifts are essentially lift trucks which are engineered with counterweight at the back of the equipment. The counterweight works to balance the weight which the blades are carrying at the front of the load. This design is engineered to stabilize traditional forklifts. As far as electric counterbalance lift trucks 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 usually manufactured in a range of sizes and configurations, using a range of fuel sources. These lift trucks could with solid or pneumatic tires, and be designed with 4 or 3 wheels. They are capable of working in diverse applications. These lift trucks are equipped with a variety of accessories. Common attachments and options comprise: side shifts, hydraulic clamps, fork shifts and slip sheet attachments just to name a few.

The counterbalance lift truck has in fact revolutionized the whole business of material handling. These equipment are essential to the shipping and receiving centers all over the globe since they are utilized for loading, stacking, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The average warehouse lift trucks are typically used for lift heights under 6 meters or 20 feet. There have been some recently developed models that could lift to heights 9.5 meters or 31 feet. The smaller 1-1.8 ton or 4000 pound forklifts are the main workhorses in most warehouses. These are the most popular models which most small companies will own. The typical warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck that requires approximately 11 feet or 3 meters to turn in.

In addition, the counterbalanced forklift is not necessarily limited to warehouse settings. They are often utilized for carrying containers and heavy use along with pretty much every application in between. Counterbalance forklifts are the most widely used and versatile of all materials handling equipment.

Due to their versatility and durability, counterbalance forklifts are commonplace in a large range of working environments, including warehousing, production and retail. Some of the industrial applications comprise: chemical, food, timber and automotive businesses.