With the hydraulic cylinder located in the center of the mast and only two mast sections two-stage masts offer operators greater forward visibility as there are less components and sections in the way disrupting the view.Īlso referred to as a triplex mast, three-stage masts offer the greatest versatility and is ideally suited for application where loads must be lifted extended heights or where overhead clearance is an issue such as in containers. The mast consists of two sections with the inner section elevating the carriage and tynes, this offers limited free lift as the outer mast section does not extend till the tynes have reached the top of the inner section. They’re commonly used for single and double stacking of loads into high racking such as freight and logistics or the delivery of manufactured goods. They offer no free lift and are best suited to low level simple applications where overhead clearance isn’t an issue such as lifting loads from the bed of trucks outside.Īlso known as a duplex mast they are the most common mast setup for forklifts operating in warehouses. The most basic of masts that has only one mast channel offering limited lifting height. The majority of forklifts come fitted with a 48 inch load backrest for loads to safely sit up against when resting on the tynes.ĭepending on the loads being lifted with the forklift a specialised backrest may need to be installed to prevent damage to the items being lifted. Masts that have no free lift will begin to extend upwards straight away as the forklifts beings lifting, whereas a mast with full free lift will allow the tynes to lift to the top of the inner section of mast before extending upwards. Lowered mast height is also important for forklifts that are used to unload containers so they can safely fit inside, this in conjunction with free lift is explained further below.įree lift is the height a load can be lifted before the mast begins to extend upwards.įree lift is very important for forklifts that operate in confined spaces where overhead clearance is limited such as in shipping container as mentioned above. If the masts lowered height is too high it may hit doorways or the raised walkways causing the unit to remain stuck in or under the doorway or walkway or cause significant damage to the mast, doorway or walkway. It is imperative to consider the masts collapsed height especially if the forklift has to travel through doorways or under raised walkways. This is the height of the mast from the ground when the tynes are fully lowered. This is to ensure the load remains stable when being lifted reducing the potential for the load to fall of the tynes and causing injury or product damage. When choosing a lift height it is recommended to add additional lift height beyond the highest point of racking to ensure the forklift is able to safely adjust loads at the top of racking.Īn important consideration when selecting a masts lift height is that the higher the mast is extended in the air the lift capacity of the forklift may decreases depending on the load center of the mast. Factors to Consider When Selecting a Forklift MastĪlso commonly referred to as maximum lift height, this is the height of the forklift tynes when the mast is fully extended. This week’s blog explains some of the key factors that need to be considered when selecting a forklift mast, whilst also profiling the four main mast types available. When choosing a new forklift one of the most important considerations is the unit’s maximum lift height and mast type.Īn incorrectly specified mast can greatly reduce the forklift’s productivity to the point that a new forklift may need to be purchased.
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