Reach forklift trucks feature extendable forks to reach goods and pallets on high racks. Unlike traditional counterbalance forklift trucks, they don’t feature a weight in the rear and instead rely on their support legs and the weight of their battery to provide stability. So, how can reach forklift trucks help you maximise your warehouse storage and increase efficiency?

Because reach forklifts are compact machines with a tight turn radius, they excel at operating in narrow aisles and warehouses with limited floor space. They can reach high racks and access pallets that are deep within shelving systems, allowing warehouses to maximise space with double-deep shelving and higher racks. 

In the rest of this blog, we’ll cover the 5 ways that reach forklifts can help optimise storage space in more detail, go over some of the other benefits of using these machines and answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

Sections:

• 5 Ways Reach Forklift Trucks Can Help Maximise Your Warehouse Storage 
  • 1. Narrower Aisle Operation
  • 2. Maximise Vertical Storage
  • 3. Better Manoeuvrability in Tight Spaces
  • 4. Utilise Double-Deep Racking Systems
  • 5. Improved Layout Flexibility
• Other Benefits of Reach Forklift Trucks
  • 1. Reduced Operational Costs
  • 2. Quiet Electric Models Suitable for Indoor Use
  • 3. Increased Productivity
  • 4. Improved Operator Visibility
  • 5. Increase Driver Comfort and Safety
• Reach Forklift Tracks from Stacatruc
• Reach Forklift Truck FAQs

5 Ways Reach Forklift Trucks Can Help Maximise Your Warehouse Storage 

Reach forklift trucks can help maximise warehouse storage due to their compact design and enhanced manoeuvrability. They are designed specifically for narrow aisles and warehouses with limited floor space. Keep reading to learn more about how using reach forklifts in your warehouse can help you make the most of the space you have available. 

1. Narrower Aisle Operation

Reach forklift trucks are designed to operate in much narrower aisles than traditional forklift trucks. Their drive wheel is located beneath the operator, and they typically have a compact, narrow chassis. This gives reach forklift trucks a much tighter turn radius, making them ideal for narrow aisles. For example, the BYD RTR16 Reach Forklift can be used in aisles as narrow as 1270 mm. Narrower warehouse aisles mean significantly higher storage capacity for pallets and products. 

2. Maximise Vertical Storage

Reach forklifts have a much longer reach than traditional counterbalance forklifts so that operators can reach pallets at greater heights. For example, the CLARK SRX14/16 Reach Truck allows you to reach a maximum height of 10500 mm. This means you can maximise your warehouse’s vertical space and utilise upper-level racking. Reach forklifts are also built with stability in mind, helping operators safely lift loads to high levels. 

3. Better Manoeuvrability in Tight Spaces

Reach forklift trucks have a compact design, making them highly manoeuvrable even where space is limited. This makes them suitable for confined or restricted warehouse layouts. For example, the BYD RTR16 Reach Forklift offers improved stability and manoeuvrability in cramped spaces due to its three-wheel design. 

4. Utilise Double-Deep Racking Systems

Reach forklift trucks can extend their forks forward to access loads that are positioned further back on shelves. This is particularly useful in double-deep racking systems, where a second pallet is stored behind the first pallet. Double-deep racking reduces the number of aisles needed, helping to maximise storage capacity. 

5. Improved Layout Flexibility

Due to their compact design and tight turning radius, reach forklifts mean that warehouse layouts can easily be reconfigured as required with no need for wide aisles. You can redesign your warehouse with narrow aisles, tight turning circles and double deep racking to best maximise space and adapt to changing storage needs. 

Other Benefits of Reach Forklift Trucks

Reach forklifts don’t just help you optimise your storage space – they can also help reduce cost, increase productivity and improve employee safety. Below, we cover 5 of the key benefits of reach forklift trucks in more detail. 

1. Reduced Operational Costs

Maximising your warehouse storage with reach forklift trucks is a simple way to reduce your need for additional storage space. This translates to lower rent, utility bills and maintenance costs. Here are some other ways that reach forklift trucks can help reduce your warehouse costs:

• Modern reach forklift trucks run on electric power, making them cheaper to run than petrol, diesel or LPG options.
• Because reach forklifts typically have fewer moving parts than more traditional counterbalance forklift trucks, they require less frequent servicing, maintenance and repairs. 
• Faster and safer handling of goods and pallets increases productivity and reduces the need for overtime.

2. Quiet Electric Models Suitable for Indoor Use

Most modern reach forklift trucks run on rechargeable electric or lithium batteries, such as the CLARK SRX14/16 Reach Truck and the BYD RTR16 Reach Forklift. These electric models run much more quietly than traditional petrol-powered machines, creating a more comfortable and less disruptive work environment. 

Additionally, many models feature advanced battery management systems and regenerative braking, helping to lower energy costs. For example, the BYD RTR16 Reach Forklift features the most up-to-date battery management system, including regenerative braking to reduce recharging requirements and reduce brake component wear. Additionally, this model features bi-directional AC charging, which allows full charging from 0-100% SOC within 4 hours. 

3. Increased Productivity

Reach forklift trucks help speed up the placement and retrieval of pallets due to their enhanced manoeuvrability. Operators can complete tasks more quickly and with greater precision, reducing handling times. Many modern reach forklift trucks include additional features to further increase productivity and speed up handling. The CLARK SRX14/16 Reach Truck includes a light height preselector in its configuration options so that the fork automatically stops at the preselected height. This improves the throughput rate due to faster positioning. 

4. Improved Operator Visibility

Unlike typical front-facing forklifts, reach forklifts are usually sideways-facing. This, in addition to slim mast designs and an open carriage, provides operators with a wider range of vision. Giving operators a clear line of sight to forks and loads at all times significantly reduces the chance of accidents and collisions, particularly in warehouses with narrow aisles or where space is limited. 

The CLARK SRX14/16 Reach Truck is designed with operator visibility in mind. The overhead guard safety bars are in alignment with the driver’s line of sight. This ensures perfect visibility through the upright due to particularly wide upright bars.

5. Increase Driver Comfort and Safety

Reach forklift trucks are designed to prioritise operator comfort and safety. The ergonomic sideways seating position reduces strain on the neck and back by ensuring the operator is aligned with the direction of the fork and load. Other features, such as adjustable seats, storage and easy-to-use ergonomic controls (all features included in the CLARK SRX14/16 Reach Truck), further increase operator comfort and reduce fatigue. This means that operators can function more productively and complete tasks quicker and to a higher standard. 

There is also a strong emphasis on safety, and many modern reach forklift trucks have a range of advanced safety features to keep operators safe and reduce the chance of accidents. For example, the CLARK SRX14/16 Reach Truck includes support arm brakes as standard. These support arm brakes result in a 20% shorter braking distance to improve employee safety. 

Reach Forklift Tracks from Stacatruc

At Stacatruc, we pride ourselves on being a UK business with over 40 years of experience in the forklift truck industry. We offer a wide range of high-quality forklift trucks, including Electric, Articulated, IC, Rough Terrain, Multi-Directional, Pallet Stackers and Reach Trucks. You can rely on our friendly and professional team for all your forklift needs – we even offer forklift hire and specialist training! Our team is passionate about helping your business grow and solving your business needs. 

Stacatruc’s range of reach forklift trucks is ideal for warehouses with narrow aisles or limited floor space. All our models feature a tight turn radius for easy manoeuvring and the ability to reach high shelves with exceptional stability. Our range includes the CLARK SRX Reach Truck and the BYD RTR16 Reach Forklift, which boast a range of standard configurations and additional features to help you optimise your warehouse storage.

Explore our range of reach forklifts on our website, or get in touch with our team for tailored advice.