Counterbalance forklifts are essentially forklifts that are engineered with counterweight at the rear of the machine. The counterweight works to balance the weight which the forks are carrying at the front of the load. This design is engineered to stabilize traditional forklifts. As far as electric counterbalance forklifts are concerned, the battery itself forms the counterweight.

Counterbalance forklifts could usually be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are normally manufactured in a variety of configurations and sizes, utilizing a variety of fuel sources. 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 comprise: slip sheet attachments, fork shifts, hydraulic clamps and side shifts just to name some items.

Counterbalance forklifts have changed the material handling industry. They have become the cornerstone of storage and distribution systems where they perform loading, stacking, unloading and horizontal transport functions. The standard warehouse forklifts are typically used for lift heights less than 20 feet or 6 meters. There have been some recently developed models which can lift to heights 31 feet or 9.5 meters. The smaller 1-1.8 ton or 4000 lbs. forklifts are the main workhorses within most warehouses. These are the most popular models which most small businesses would have. The typical warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck that needs roughly 11 feet or 3 meters to turn in.

Moreover, the counterbalanced forklift is not necessarily confined to warehouse environments. They are normally used for heavy use and container carrying together with pretty much every use in between. Counterbalance lift trucks are the most versatile and widely utilized of all materials handling machinery.

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