Forklifts are machines that forklift drivers utilize to transport supplies from one place to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The equipment lifts pallets, also known as skids, which are loaded with items. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies such as Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing sold the very first forklifts during the early 1900s. These days nearly all goods are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Among the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also referred to as "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 kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is utilized for specialized applications. This hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles as it could onload and offload within very tight spaces.
The Guided Very Narrow Aisle Trucks are capable of lifting as high as 12 meters, and even up to 30 meters if it is a "non top-tied" kind. These kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machine must just be used on floors that are flat and even.