Masts on forklift trucks – Definition and overview

The mast performs the actual functions of a forklift truck or industrial truck. If loads have to be lifted and moved, stacked and unstacked, this is done using the mast. It consists of a lift mast, mast profile, lift carriage and the load handling attachment.

It is used exclusively for the vertical movement of goods or load handling equipment (load carriage, load carrier), is hydraulically driven and consists of just one fixed outer mast and one or more telescopic inner masts: single, double and triple masts. There are now suppliers who specialize in quadruple masts. However, as these are expensive to purchase, they are still rather rare. They can all reach different lifting heights; load carriage heights of up to 30 meters and higher are possible for storage activities.

To ensure that a lifting frame can be extended and retracted under load, it consists of nested lifting frames that are guided on rollers. The scaffolding is extended by so-called single-acting plunger cylinders, also known as plunger cylinders, and the lifting chains. It can be tilted forwards (three degrees) and backwards (eight to ten degrees) to better accommodate loads. The latter prevents the load from slipping on bends and slopes.

As lifting frames are not standardized, they can also be rigid. They are then mostly used in high-bay warehouses ; flexible ones, on the other hand, are used for self-supporting (mobile) work.

Types of mast:

  • Single lifting scaffolds with single or double mast profile
  • Double telescopic masts (duplex mast)
  • Triple telescopic masts (triple mast)
  • Quadruple telescopic masts

Hubgeruest-und Staplerfahrzeug

Clear-view masts are another construction variant. They offer the driver a better view to the front, even with loaded fork carriages. Components such as hydraulic cylinders, lifting chains and hoses are guided to the side.

The designs differ in terms of the free lift. This determines how flexibly an industrial truck can be used. If the truck lifts a load without the mast being extended, it moves in the free lift zone. As a rule, this is the actual overall height of the truck.

If the truck has a full free lift, the forks can guide the load to the upper end (headroom) without the telescopic lift mast extending. If, on the other hand, a higher shelf compartment needs to be reached, another lift mast (duplex mast) automatically extends telescopically.

Further information on forklifts can be found in the articles Forklift trucks and Forklift guidance system.

Image sources: Teaser: © industrieblick – Fotolia.com; Featured image: © tup.com