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

Counterbalance forklifts can usually be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are usually manufactured in a range of configurations and sizes, using a range of fuel sources. These lift trucks can with pneumatic or solid tires. They could operate in various applications. These lift trucks are outfitted with a range of accessories. Common attachments and options consist of: side shifts, hydraulic clamps, slip sheet attachments and fork shifts just to name a few.

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

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

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