Articulated narrow aisle forklifts for the racking and the yard
Aislemaster Forklifts
Most warehouses lose a surprising amount of floor to aisles. A counterbalance forklift needs room to turn and face the racking, so a large share of the building ends up as aisle. An Aislemaster forklift bends in the middle instead, which lets it stack and retrieve pallets in aisles far narrower than a conventional truck can work in.
Forktruck Solutions supplies, hires and services AC electric Aislemaster forklifts across the UK, including the standard AC electric machine, the stand-on Aisle Master order picker and a cold store version with a heated, enclosed cab.
What is an articulated forklift?
An articulated forklift is a truck with a joint between the front section, which carries the mast and forks, and the rear section, which carries the operator and the battery. The front pivots on that joint, so the forks can turn to face the racking on either side while the truck itself stays straight in the aisle.
Aislemaster is the best-known name in this type of machine, and you will often see aisle master forklifts used as a general term for articulated trucks. The brand is now part of the Combilift group, alongside the multi-directional trucks on our Combilift page.
What makes an Aislemaster forklift different from other narrow aisle forklifts is that it still behaves like a counterbalance truck when it leaves the racking. It can drive out into the yard, take a pallet off the side of a lorry and carry it straight back into storage. Most narrow aisle machines stay indoors, which leaves the site needing a second truck outside.
The Aislemaster range
Three AC electric models covering standard warehouse work, order picking and cold storage. See the AC Electric Machine, the Aisle Master Order Picker and the Cold Store Aisle Master for more on each.
Aisle Master Order Picker
The Aisle Master Order Picker (AMF-OP) takes everything the Aisle Master is known for, an articulated chassis that works in narrow aisles and outside in the yard, and adds a low, stand-on platform for order picking. One Aisle Master can put away full pallets in aisles as narrow as 1,650 mm, then let the operator step straight off to pick cases.
Models cover 1,500 kg to 2,500 kg with lift heights of up to 12.1 metres, so it handles the same pallet work as the rest of the Aisle Master range.
Features
- Stand-on, step-through operator compartment
- 280 mm floor height with access from both sides
- Aisle Master articulation of more than 205°
- Works in aisles from 1,650 mm
- 1,500 to 2,500 kg capacity, lifting to 12.1 m
- AC electric drive
Cold Store Aisle Master
The Cold Store Aisle Master is an articulated narrow aisle forklift built for chilled and frozen warehouses. A fully enclosed, heated cab keeps the operator warm at temperatures down to -30°C, and heated windows stop the glass misting up when the truck moves between the freezer and the loading bay.
Because it stacks in aisles from around 1.6 metres, it fits more pallet positions into the same refrigerated space, which matters when every cubic metre costs money to keep cold.
Features
- Fully enclosed, heated cab
- Heated cab windows to prevent condensation
- Rated for temperatures down to -30°C
- Works in aisles from around 1.6 m
- LED work lights as standard
- Space in the cab for a barcode scanner
AC Electric Machine
Every electric model within the Aisle Master lineup now boasts the incorporation of AC technology as a standard feature. This strategic move firmly positions the company as a pioneering force in the realm of battery-powered technology within the articulated forklift sector.
Advantages The adoption of AC electric technology brings forth a myriad of key benefits. It significantly elevates performance levels, facilitating an upsurge in pallet-handling capabilities, thereby enhancing overall productivity. Furthermore, it translates into improved acceleration and gradeability, empowering these forklifts to navigate diverse terrains with ease. Additionally, the reduced number of components prone to wear and tear leads to minimal maintenance requirements and a consequential reduction in downtime.
Aislemaster vs reach truck and counterbalance forklift
| Aislemaster | Reach truck | Counterbalance forklift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical aisle width | From around 1.6 m | Around 2.7–3.2 m | Around 3.5–4.5 m |
| How it stacks | Front section pivots to face the racking | Forks reach forward along the mast | Whole truck turns to face the racking |
| Indoors or outdoors | Both, including the yard | Indoors on level floors | Both |
| Unloads lorries | Yes | No | Yes |
| Operator | Seated, or stand-on with the AMF-OP | Seated or standing, sideways-on | Seated |
| Power | AC electric | Electric | Electric, LPG or diesel |
| Typical fleet role | Racking, yard and loading bay with one truck | Racking, paired with a yard truck | Yard and bay, paired with a racking truck |
| Best for | Getting more pallets into a building that also needs yard work | High-bay pallet storage on level floors | Yards, loading bays and wide-aisle stores |
Aisle widths are typical figures and depend on the model, pallet size and racking. We will confirm the right configuration for your building.
A reach truck still makes sense for very high racking on level floors – see our electric reach trucks. For yards and wide aisles, a standard electric forklift is the simpler choice. The Aislemaster is the one to choose when you want narrow aisles and yard work from the same machine.
How a narrow aisle forklift adds storage
Racking is cheap compared to floor space. The usual way to get more pallets into a building is to narrow the aisles, and the machine you choose sets how narrow they can go.
A counterbalance forklift typically needs 3.5 to 4.5 metres to turn and stack. A reach truck brings that down to around 2.7 to 3.2 metres. An articulated truck can work in aisles from around 1.6 metres, depending on the model and the size of the pallet.
Take a building with ten aisles. Saving even 1.5 metres on each one frees up 15 metres of floor, which is often enough for several more runs of racking without extending the building or taking on more space elsewhere.
There is a saving on machines too. With one truck covering both the racking and the deliveries, many sites run a smaller fleet and spend less time passing pallets from one truck to another.
Where Aislemaster forklifts are used
- Distribution and 3PL warehouses – dense pallet storage where every extra pallet position counts towards the cost of the building.
- Cold storage – chilled and frozen stores, where narrow aisles cut the volume that has to be kept cold.
- Food and drink – zero-emission handling close to open product and packaging.
- Builders merchants and wholesale – racking indoors and deliveries outdoors, often on sites with limited yard space.
- Manufacturing – raw material and finished goods stores alongside production, where floor space is shared with machinery.
- Retail and e-commerce – replenishment and case picking, particularly with the stand-on order picker.
Aislemaster trucks often sit alongside pallet trucks for moves at ground level and order pickers on high-volume picking operations.
AC electric power and running costs
Every electric model in the Aislemaster range now uses AC drive as standard. In day-to-day use, that shows up in a few ways.
More pallets per hour. AC motors give stronger acceleration and better performance on ramps and gradients, so the truck moves more loads in a shift, including when it goes out to the yard.
Less maintenance. An AC motor has no brushes to wear out, so there are fewer parts to replace and fewer reasons for the truck to be off the floor.
Clean and quiet. With no exhaust and little noise, the truck can work inside all day, in food areas and in enclosed cold stores, without extra ventilation.
Lower running costs. Electricity costs less per working hour than diesel or LPG. Battery size is matched to your shift pattern and charging breaks, so the truck is specified for the hours it actually works.
Aislemaster training, safety and thorough examination
Like any forklift, an Aislemaster is covered by LOLER and PUWER. These are the points that matter most for articulated trucks.
Operator training. Steering from the middle of the truck takes some getting used to, particularly for drivers who have only used counterbalance machines. Operators need accredited training on articulated forklifts, and anyone using the stand-on order picker needs training on that machine as well.
Thorough examination. A competent person must examine the truck at least once every 12 months, or more often under heavy use. It is a legal inspection with its own report, not part of a routine service.
Daily checks and racking. Alongside the usual checks on forks, mast, chains, hydraulics and tyres, look at the articulation joint and steering. With little clearance either side of the truck, racking should be inspected regularly for knocks to uprights and beams.
We can carry out thorough examinations on the same visit as planned maintenance. See servicing and repairs.
Hire, finance and servicing for your Aislemaster
An Aislemaster can be bought outright or taken on contract hire, lease or short-term hire. Short-term hire is worth considering before you re-rack: run the truck in your current aisles first and see how it copes with your pallets and your yard. See our hire and leasing options.
Servicing is carried out by our own engineers rather than subcontractors, covering planned maintenance, breakdowns, parts and thorough examinations. We work on all makes, so the Aislemaster can go on one contract with the rest of your trucks.
Where trucks spend the day working close to racking, forklift telematics is worth adding. Impact sensors show when and where knocks happen, and operator access control keeps the truck in trained hands.
GET IN TOUCH
Every warehouse is different. Tell us your aisle widths, racking height and pallet sizes, and we will tell you which Aislemaster fits and how much space you could gain.
T: 01924 265623
Aislemaster FAQs
What is an Aislemaster forklift?
Aislemaster, also written Aisle Master, is a brand of articulated forklift that is now part of the Combilift group. Its trucks are designed to stack pallets in very narrow aisles and still work outside in the yard, so one machine can cover both jobs.
What is an articulated forklift?
An articulated forklift has a pivoting joint between the front section, which carries the mast and forks, and the rear section, which carries the operator. The front turns on that joint to stack and retrieve pallets from either side of a narrow aisle. Unlike most narrow aisle trucks, it can also work outdoors and unload lorries.
What aisle width does an Aislemaster need?
An Aislemaster can work in aisles from around 1.6 metres, depending on the model and the size of the pallet. That compares with around 2.7 to 3.2 metres for a reach truck and 3.5 to 4.5 metres for a counterbalance forklift. We will confirm the exact figure against your racking and pallets.
What is the difference between an Aislemaster and a reach truck?
Both are used in narrow aisles, but a reach truck is an indoor machine built for level floors and cannot unload lorries. An Aislemaster works in even narrower aisles and can also go outside to the yard and the loading bay. For very high racking on level floors, a reach truck can still be the better fit.
Can an Aislemaster be used outside?
Yes. It is built to drive out of the racking and into the yard, so the same truck can take pallets off a lorry and put them away. Most other narrow aisle forklifts are indoor-only.
What is the Aisle Master order picker?
The Aisle Master order picker (AMF-OP) is a stand-on electric truck that combines a narrow aisle articulated forklift with an order picker. Operators can move full pallets and pick cases with the same machine, which suits warehouses that do both.
Can an Aislemaster work in a cold store?
Yes. The Cold Store Aisle Master has a fully enclosed, heated cab with good visibility, so operators stay warm and need fewer breaks. Because it works in narrow aisles, it also reduces the volume of space that has to be kept chilled or frozen.
Are Aislemaster forklifts electric?
All of the Aislemaster forklifts we supply are electric, and every electric model in the range now uses AC drive as standard. AC drive gives better acceleration and performance on gradients, with fewer parts that wear out.
Do you need a licence to drive an Aislemaster?
Not a licence as such. UK law requires operators to be trained, assessed and authorised by their employer. For an Aislemaster, that training has to cover articulated forklifts specifically, as a counterbalance certificate is not enough. The stand-on order picker needs separate training.
Can I hire an Aislemaster rather than buy one?
Yes. Alongside outright sale we offer short-term hire, contract hire and leasing. Many customers hire first to test an articulated truck in their existing aisles before changing the racking.
Who services Aislemaster forklifts?
We do. Our own engineers service Aislemaster forklifts across the UK, from planned maintenance and breakdown repairs to parts and LOLER thorough examinations. Because we work on all makes, it can sit on the same contract as the rest of your fleet.