The counterbalanced forklift is a lift truck that utilizes a counter balance that is attached to the back end of the equipment. This counterbalance effectively balances loads which are positioned on the blades at the front end of the machinery. This design is engineered to stabilize typical lift trucks. When it comes to electric counterbalance forklifts, the battery itself forms the counterweight.

Nearly every forklift producer will have in their product range, a counterbalance lift truck. These machines would come in a huge assortment of fuel sources, configurations, and sizes. These forklifts could with pneumatic or solid tires, and be designed with 3 or 4 wheels. They are capable of working in diverse applications. These forklifts are equipped with a range of accessories. Common attachments and options include: slip sheet attachments, fork shifts, side shifts and hydraulic clamps just to name some items.

Counterbalance forklifts have changed the material handling industry. They have become the cornerstone of distribution and storage systems where they perform loading, stacking, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The standard warehouse lift trucks are usually used for lift heights under 6 meters or 20 feet. There have been some recently developed models which are capable of lifting to heights 31 feet or 9.5 meters. The smaller 1-1.8 ton or 4000 pound forklifts are the main workhorses inside most warehouses. These are the most common units which most small businesses will have. The typical warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck which requires around 3 meters or 11 feet to turn in.

Furthermore, the counterbalanced lift truck is not necessarily limited to warehouse settings. They are often utilized for heavy use and carrying containers together with pretty much every use in between. Counterbalance forklifts are the most widely used and versatile of all materials handling machines.

Because of their durability and versatility, counterbalance forklifts are commonplace in a huge range of working environments, like warehousing, production and retail. Some of the industrial use consist of: automotive, timber, chemical and food industries.