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Electric Pallet Truck Fork Types: Standard vs Custom Options

Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-08-14 Origin: Site

From “One-Fork-Fits-All” to “Precision Fit” – Key Considerations in Fork Selection

The forks are the core components of an electric pallet truck that directly contact the cargo. Their dimensions, materials, and structure directly impact handling efficiency, cargo safety, and equipment stability. For an Electric Pallet Truck, choosing the right fork type is as important as choosing the equipment itself.

This article provides a systematic analysis of electric pallet truck fork types, including standard fork specifications, customization options, and selection considerations, to help you make precise fork configuration decisions based on actual working conditions.

1. Standard Fork Specifications

Standard forks on electric pallet trucks currently follow these main specifications:

Parameter	Standard Specification	Description
Fork Length	1150mm / 1200mm	Fits standard EUR/ISO pallets
Fork Width	560mm / 680mm	560mm for standard pallets, 680mm for wide forks
Fork Thickness	50-60mm	Ensures structural strength under 2-ton loads
Inner Fork Spacing	200-300mm	Adjustable design
Minimum Ground Clearance	80-100mm	Affects ease of pallet insertion

These standard specifications can accommodate the vast majority of EUR pallets (1200×800mm) and ISO pallets (1200×1000mm) on the market, making them the general choice for most warehouses.

2. Fork Customization Options

When standard forks cannot meet special working condition requirements, custom forks become a necessary solution.

2.1 Length Customization

Fork Length	Application Scenario	Advantage
<1000mm	Small pallets, tight spaces	Smaller turning radius, better maneuverability
1000-1150mm	Standard pallets	Best versatility
1150-1500mm	Non-standard long pallets, two pallets side by side	Move more cargo in one trip
>1500mm	Special long-dimension cargo	Higher load stability

2.2 Width Customization

Fork Width	Application Scenario	Description
<540mm	Narrow pallets, special cargo	Good maneuverability, but reduced stability
540-580mm	Standard EUR pallets	Industry standard specification
680-700mm	Wide pallets, large cargo	Larger load surface, better stability
>700mm	Extra-wide cargo	Requires wider body design

2.3 Special Materials and Structures

Customization Type	Application Scenario	Features
Stainless Steel Forks	Food, pharmaceutical, chemical industries	Corrosion-resistant, easy to clean
Thickened Forks	Extra-heavy loads (>2.5 tons)	Higher bending strength
Side-Shift Forks	Requires lateral fine alignment	Improves alignment efficiency
Adjustable-Spacing Forks	Multiple pallet sizes used alternately	Flexibly adapts to different pallets

Take Diding Lift‘s 2T Stand On Pallet Truck Off Road CBDE as an example. This Electric Pallet Truck supports customizable fork length and width, allowing adaptation to actual pallet dimensions and aisle widths to meet diverse requirements such as non-standard pallets and special cargo.

3. Core Selection Considerations for Forks

3.1 Pallet Type and Dimensions

Pallet Type	Recommended Fork Specification	Description
EUR Pallet (1200×800mm)	Length 1150mm, Width 560mm	Standard configuration
ISO Pallet (1200×1000mm)	Length 1150mm, Width 560mm	Standard configuration
Non-Standard Pallet	Customized to actual dimensions	Pallet drawing required
Double-Face Pallet	Thin-fork type required	Fork tip thickness <20mm

3.2 Aisle Width and Turning Radius

Fork length directly affects the equipment‘s turning radius and aisle width requirements:

Longer forks → larger turning radius → wider aisles required
In warehouses with narrow aisles, choosing shorter forks can significantly improve maneuverability

The CBDE has a turning radius of only approximately 1.5 meters, allowing flexible operation in aisles 2.0-2.5 meters wide even with standard-length forks.

...2T Stand On Pallet Truck Off Road CBDE Operating Space.png

3.3 Load and Cargo Characteristics

Cargo Characteristic	Fork Selection Suggestion
Forward center of gravity	Choose longer forks for more support length
High center of gravity	Choose wider forks for more lateral stability
Fragile items	Choose rubber-padded surface forks
Coiled/round cargo	Choose grooved special forks

4. Standard vs. Custom: How to Decide?

Consideration	Choose Standard Forks	Choose Custom Forks
Cost	✅ Lower (mass production)	Higher (requires custom tooling/fabrication)
Lead Time	✅ Shorter (in-stock availability)	Longer (requires additional processing time)
Pallet Standardization	✅ When pallets are standard	When pallets are non-standard
Aisle Conditions	When aisles are wide	✅ When aisles are extremely narrow (short forks needed)
Cargo Special Requirements	For standard cargo	✅ For special shape/center-of-gravity cargo

General principle: Standard pallets + standard aisles → choose standard forks; non-standard pallets / special cargo / extremely narrow aisles → choose custom forks.

5. Summary

Though forks may seem like a “simple” component on an electric pallet truck, their selection directly affects operational efficiency, safety, and equipment lifespan.

Fork Selection Key Points	Core Recommendations
Standard Forks	1150mm length, 560mm width fits most standard pallets
Custom Forks	Non-standard pallets, special cargo, extremely narrow aisles recommend custom
Core Parameters	Length, width, thickness, and ground clearance should be considered together
CBDE Configuration	Supports fork length and width customization for diverse needs

For more information on fork configurations or customization solutions, please contact Diding Lift. This professional manufacturer has over 12 years of industry experience and a 65,000 m² factory . All products comply with European EN standards and ISO, CE, and EU certifications and support ODM/OEM customization including non-standard configurations such as fork length and width.

Need fork selection assessment, customization solutions,or equipment pricing? Send an email to sales@didinglift.com – our professional team will provide one-on-one support within 24 hours.

References

1. Toyota Material Handling. (2025). Fork Dimensions and Pallet Compatibility Guide. Toyota Material Handling.

2. Jungheinrich. (2025). Fork Options and Customization for Electric Pallet Trucks. Jungheinrich Product Documentation.

3. EP Equipment. (2025). Pallet Truck Fork Selection Guide. EP Equipment.

4. European Pallet Association (EPAL). (2025). EPAL Pallet Dimensions and Specifications. EPAL.

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