Counterbalance lift trucks are basically forklifts which are engineered with counterweight at the rear of the equipment. The counterweight works to balance the weight which the forks are carrying at the front of the cargo. This design is engineered to stabilize typical forklifts. As far as electric counterbalance lift trucks are concerned, 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 sizes and configurations, using a variety 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 lift trucks are outfitted with a variety of accessories. Common options and attachments comprise: hydraulic clamps, side shifts, fork shifts and slip sheet attachments just to name some items.

Counterbalance forklifts have changed the material handling business. They have become the cornerstone of distribution and storage systems where they perform loading, stacking, unloading and horizontal transport functions. The average warehouse lift trucks are normally utilized 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 most warehouses. These are the most popular models that the majority of small companies would own. The average warehouse counterbalance forklift is really a wide-aisle truck which needs about 3 meters or 11 feet to turn in.

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

The counterbalanced lift truck is common in numerous working environments, like warehousing, production and retail. This is due to their versatility and durability. Some of the industrial use consist of: automotive, timber, food and chemical businesses.