ARAS Handling Equipment Glossary

Core Concept

Aisle Width

Definition: The minimum clear distance between storage racks required for a forklift to turn and place or retrieve pallets safely. It depends on truck type, load length, and turning radius.

Why it matters: Correct aisle width maximizes storage density without compromising safety or productivity.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: —

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (Wikipedia).

Back to top

Forklift

Definition: A powered industrial truck with forks or attachments to lift, stack, and transport palletized loads. Available in electric and internal-combustion variants and multiple mast/frame configurations for different duty cycles.

Why it matters: The right forklift type drives throughput, safety, and operating cost control.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Lift truck, PIT

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (Wikipedia).

Back to top

Load Center

Definition: The horizontal distance from the fork face to the load’s center of gravity, used to determine a truck’s rated capacity. Typical data plates assume a 500 mm load center for standard pallets.

Why it matters: Exceeding the rated load center reduces safe lifting capacity and stability.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: LC

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (OSHA).

Back to top

Product/Feature

3-Wheel Electric Forklift

Definition: Compact counterbalance forklift with a single rear drive/steer wheel, optimized for tight turning and indoor operations. Typically battery-powered with cushion or pneumatic tires.

Why it matters: Delivers maximum maneuverability in narrow spaces while cutting local emissions.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: 3-wheel CB

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Electric Forklift

Definition: Counterbalance truck powered by lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. Ideal for indoor or food/ pharma applications due to zero tailpipe emissions and lower noise.

Why it matters: Reduces fuel costs and supports sustainability targets in UAE warehouses.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: E-forklift, Li-ion CB

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Diesel Forklift

Definition: Internal-combustion counterbalance truck using diesel engines for high torque and outdoor durability. Preferred for heavy loads, ramps, and rougher yards with longer shifts.

Why it matters: Handles heavy-duty applications where electric runtime or outdoor conditions are limiting.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: IC forklift

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Hand Pallet Truck

Definition: Manual device with forks and a hydraulic pump for lifting and moving pallets short distances. Operated by a tiller; no onboard power source.

Why it matters: Lowest-cost, low-maintenance tool for last-meter pallet moves.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Pallet jack, HPT

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Reach Truck

Definition: Warehouse truck with an extending mast/carriage that “reaches” into racking, enabling narrow aisles and higher lift heights than standard counterbalance forklifts.

Why it matters: Improves cubic storage utilization and pallet throughput in high-bay operations.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: —

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Stacker (Electric)

Definition: Pedestrian or rider-assisted truck that lifts pallets to racking heights using an electric drive and lift. Designed for medium lift heights and moderate distances.

Why it matters: Bridges the gap between pallet trucks and reach trucks at lower TCO.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Power stacker

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

VNA Forklift

Definition: “Very Narrow Aisle” truck engineered for aisles as tight as ~1.6–2.0 m, often using guidance systems (rails/wires) and rotating forks or articulating masts to pick in high-bay storage.

Why it matters: Maximizes storage density where space costs dominate.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Very Narrow Aisle truck

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Process/Workflow

Preventive Maintenance (PM)

Definition: Scheduled inspections, lubrication, adjustments, and part replacements performed at time/usage intervals to keep trucks safe and reliable.

Why it matters: Cuts unplanned downtime and extends equipment life.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: PM service

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (OSHA).

Back to top

Pre-Shift Inspection

Definition: Operator checklist conducted before each shift covering forks, mast chains, hydraulics, tires, brakes, horn, lights, and safety devices; defects must be tagged out.

Why it matters: Prevents accidents and preserves compliance.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Daily check

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (OSHA).

Back to top

Speed Governor/Limiter

Definition: Electronic or mechanical device that restricts maximum travel speed of a forklift to improve workplace safety and reduce wear.

Why it matters: Helps enforce site speed policies and lowers collision risk.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Speed limiter

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (ISO 3691-1).

Back to top

Material

Lead-Acid Battery

Definition: Traditional flooded/AGM industrial traction battery chemistry used in electric forklifts; delivers reliable power with routine watering and equalization charging.

Why it matters: Lower upfront cost; requires maintenance and charging rooms/ventilation.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: FLA, AGM

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Lithium-Ion Battery

Definition: High-efficiency battery chemistry enabling fast/ opportunity charging, higher energy density, and minimal maintenance in electric forklifts.

Why it matters: Increases uptime and reduces lifetime operating costs for multi-shift sites.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Li-ion, LFP (common chemistry)

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Standard/Certification

ISO 3691 (Industrial Trucks Safety)

Definition: International safety standard specifying requirements for the design, operation, and verification of industrial trucks, including braking, stability, and controls.

Why it matters: Provides a compliance baseline for safe equipment selection and operation.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: —

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (ISO).

Back to top

Tool/Software

Opportunity Charging

Definition: Practice of partially recharging electric forklift batteries during breaks or short windows to extend runtime without full cycles.

Why it matters: Supports multi-shift operations and smaller battery fleets.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Opp-charge

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (US DOE).

Back to top

Metric/Spec

Lifting Capacity

Definition: Maximum weight a forklift can safely raise at a specified load center and mast height, as shown on the data plate.

Why it matters: Ensures safe handling of your heaviest SKUs at required elevations.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: Rated capacity

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD (OSHA).

Back to top

Turning Radius

Definition: The minimum circular arc a forklift needs to turn 180° or complete a tight maneuver, influenced by wheelbase and steering geometry.

Why it matters: Small turning radius enables narrower aisles and faster slotting.

Synonyms/Abbreviations: TR

Internal targets:

External reference captured in JSON-LD.

Back to top

Company-Specific