The counterbalanced forklift is a lift truck which uses a counter balance that is connected to the back end of the machinery. This counterbalance effectively balances loads that are positioned on the tines at the front end of the machinery. This particular design is engineered to stabilize traditional lift trucks. As far as electric counterbalance lift trucks are concerned, the battery itself forms the counterweight.

Counterbalance forklifts can often be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are usually manufactured in a range of sizes and configurations, using a range of fuel sources. These forklifts can be fitted. They could work in diverse applications. These lift trucks are outfitted with a variety of accessories. Common attachments and options comprise: fork shifts, slip sheet attachments, hydraulic clamps and side shifts just to mention some items.

The counterbalance lift truck has in fact revolutionized the whole industry of material handling. These machinery are important to the shipping and receiving centers around the globe since they are used for loading, stacking, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The average warehouse lift trucks are usually used for lift heights less than 20 feet or 6 meters. There have been some models recently designed that are capable of lifting to heights 9.5 meters or 31 feet. The smaller 4000 pound or 1-1.8 ton forklifts are the main workhorses inside most warehouses. These are the most popular models which the majority of small businesses would own. The typical warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck that needs roughly 3 meters or 11 feet to turn in.

Counterbalance forklifts are not necessarily confined to the warehouse. They are normally used for heavy use and container carrying together with pretty much every application in between. Counterbalance forklifts are the most versatile and widely used of all materials handling machinery.

Due to their durability and versatility, counterbalance lift trucks are commonplace in a large range of working environments, like retail, warehousing and production. Some of the industrial use include: food, chemical, timber and automotive businesses.