Counterbalance forklifts are essentially forklifts which are designed with counterweight at the back of the machine. The counterweight works to balance the weight which the blades are carrying at the front of the cargo. This design is engineered to stabilize traditional lift trucks. As far as electric counterbalance forklifts are concerned, the counterweight is formed by the battery itself.

Counterbalance lift trucks can often 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 could be equipped. They are capable of working in various applications. These lift trucks are outfitted with a variety of accessories. Common options and attachments consist of: slip sheet attachments, fork shifts, hydraulic clamps and side shifts just to name a few.

Counterbalance forklifts have changed the material handling industry. They have become the cornerstone of storage and distribution systems where they perform stacking, loading, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The average warehouse forklifts are typically utilized for lift heights less than 6 meters or 20 feet. There have been some recently developed units which are capable of lifting to heights 31 feet or 9.5 meters. The smaller 4000 pound or 1-1.8 ton forklifts are the main workhorses in the majority of warehouses. These are the most popular units which the majority of small companies will have. The average warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck which requires about 11 feet or 3 meters to turn in.

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

The counterbalanced lift truck is common in many working environments, like retail, warehousing and production. This is because of their versatility and durability. Several of the industrial applications include: timber, automotive, food and chemical businesses.