An air lift truck, or pneumatic forklift, uses pneumatic tires rather than air power. Radial tires offer better lifting potential, longer tire life, lower fuel consumption and better traction. They can be used outdoors and won’t damage surfaces. However, they wear out faster than cushioned tires.
You might think that an air lift truck is one that runs on air power, but that’s not the case. More commonly referred to as a pneumatic forklift, a pneumatic forklift uses pneumatic tires, not pneumatic power. Although the power source is no different from other forklifts, the lifting potential compared to cushion forklifts and electric forklifts is generally doubled. There are different types of tires and some can improve the lifting potential of the forklift, but the same tires tend to last less time than other types of tires.
The tire on an air forklift is the same shape as a standard tire and has a large band of air inside the tire. Unlike other forklift tires which have metal bands and rubber inserts, these tires are mostly filled with air. Tires come in two main types: bias and radial.
In bias tires, the strings that create the tires are crossed. These tires are much cheaper, because they use more fuel, aren’t as durable, and decrease the lift potential. Radial tires, where the bands are in a straight line, are more expensive but offer benefits such as longer tire life, better lift, lower fuel consumption and better traction. When using high-quality radial tires, an air forklift is typically able to lift twice as much weight as a cushion or electric forklift. Depending on the model, the forklift will be able to lift 15,000 to 30,000 pounds (6,803 to 13,607 kilograms).
The lifting potential of an air-operated forklift is better, but because tires are air-based, they wear out faster than cushioned tires. They usually wear two to three times as fast, but getting higher quality tires will allow them to wear slightly slower than that. Using tires with the best sidewall protection and tread depth will help your tires last longer.
In addition to better lifting potential, pneumatic forklifts can be used in different terrains than other forklifts. Electric and cushion forklifts are made for indoor and warehouse use only, which limits their usefulness. Pneumatic models can be used outdoors without adding extra wear to the tire. Some cushion forklifts may use pneumatic tires, but most are not meant for this, so this can cause problems. The tires are also non-marking, so they won’t damage floors or ground surfaces, but this also reduces the longevity of the tyre.
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