| Decision Factor | Counterbalance Forklift | Heavy Duty AGV (Tank Carrier) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-load weight ceiling | Practical limit ~10 ton; counterweight grows non-linearly above | 10 / 20 / 30 / 50 ton single unit, 100 ton in tandem pair |
| Load shape | Assumes pallet or fork-friendly base | Slides under any flat-bottom load — coil saddle, die, casting, machine base |
| Aisle / clearance width | Wide aisle for counterweight tail and turning radius | Cargo dimensions only — no counterweight footprint |
| Operator licensing | Certified heavy forklift operator + annual recertification | Pendant remote — any trained worker |
| Power source | LPG / diesel (emissions) or lead-acid (long charge cycle) | CATL LFP lithium — clean, fast charge, 3 h continuous |
| Damage risk to load | Fork-tine point loading risk on high-value parts | Distributed platform support — no point loading |
Heavy Duty AGV — When Forklifts Hit Their Weight Ceiling.
Also called: heavy duty transfer cart, AGV cart, electric tank carrier, heavy load transfer cart. Compared to AGV forklift (electric forklift / electric pallet truck), heavy duty AGV uses a low-profile transfer cart chassis that slides under cargo and lifts on a turret — built for the 10-50 ton single-load class where forklifts run out of weight capacity, aisle width or operator licensing.
Forklifts solve pallet throughput. They do not solve a single 25 ton steel coil, a 40 ton stamping die, or a 50 ton ship block. When the load class moves past where forklifts make economic sense, plants switch to a low-profile heavy duty AGV — a battery-powered electric tank carrier that slides under the cargo, lifts on a turret, and travels under pendant remote control.
Decision Framework
Heavy Duty AGV vs Forklift — The Six-Factor Comparison
Forklifts are the right answer for many tasks. These are the cases where they are not.
When Buyers Switch From Forklift To Heavy Duty AGV
01
One steel coil at a time
10–25 ton coils, indoor mill, narrow aisle. Fork tines damage coil edges; counterweight forklift cannot fit.
02
Mold & die change
Stamping dies 20–50 ton. Plant cannot afford to tie up the overhead crane for short horizontal moves.
03
Heavy machinery final assembly
30–50 ton machine bases moving between assembly stations. Fork access blocked by hanging cables, jigs.
04
Outdoor shipyard block move
50+ ton ship blocks transferred from fabrication shed to dry dock. Forklift cannot reach this class at all.
05
Hot casting / foundry
High temperature near pour line — forklift cab is uncomfortable / unsafe. Pendant remote keeps the operator clear.
06
Automotive plant body / engine moves
Body-in-white, engine cradle and stamping die transfers between cells in tight automotive plant aisles.
The Drive Motor Is Built In-House — That's The OEM Difference.
Most "heavy duty AGV" suppliers in China assemble carts using motors and controllers bought from third parties. Shenghe is a 10-year BLDC manufacturer first — we built the drive used in this carrier ourselves. When buyers in Türkiye, Mexico or Poland need a custom voltage, gear ratio, mounting shaft, encoder protocol or controller communication, we change it on our own production line.
- 10+ years BLDC motor manufacturing in Cixi, Ningbo
- Six payload classes (10–50 ton) maintained as stock SKU
- Tandem-pair synchronization for >50 ton loads
- OEM brand-labeled build for distributors and integrators
- EAC / CE / RoHS / ISO 9001 supported
- 1-year warranty + spare parts kit + remote engineering support
Tell Us The Load Class And The Move Distance.
For an accurate carrier recommendation we need: payload tonnage, daily move count, single-trip distance, slope, floor type, aisle clearance.