The forklift has become such an invaluable piece of machine found and utilized in most warehousing and industrial operations, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago during the 1920's. Among the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling business. Different other well-known names in the making of these machines comprise: Yale, Hyster, Nissan Mitsubishi, Cat and Toyota.
Hyster has grown to become amongst the most popular models of lift trucks within the business. In fact, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machines consist of: high/low, lift truck, jitney, stacker truck and fork truck.
The ancestor of today's machines was first made during the early part of the 19th century. At this time, battery-powered, small models were made for the purpose of moving traveler's baggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. In the First World War, various versions were made in England specially for use in the material handling industry. These equipment evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
Today's machinery come in many sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are large truck-mounted lift truck models and some of the bigger equipment, whereas the smaller equipment consist of hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles that are practically robotic in nature. These models were developed as a way of lowering operational costs and to improve production.
A regular forklift is able to utilize a wide array of attachments which are capable of being added for a variety of specific functions. The motors could be internal combustion or IC units, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Typical warehouse units will usually be rated to raise between roughly 1 and 5 tons.
The lift truck has become a priceless part in the material handling industry. Many of these units are utilized each day throughout the world to complete tasks which used to require a lot more man-power. Operators should take stringent training programs in order to operate these heavy machines legally and safely. Numerous employees have better overall health and longer careers now due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore since the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.