Forklifts are machinery which forklift drivers use to transport materials from one location to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machine lifts pallets, also known as skids, which are loaded with objects. The lift truck is made with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Sometimes, forklifts are also referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were advertised during the early 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today the majority of supplies are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found in warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are utilized to operate the business smoothly.
The following are amongst the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also known as "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also called "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck ; 'Man Down' - for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck which is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles as it is capable of onloading and offloading in really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" type could lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machine must only be utilized on floors which are even and flat.