In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the kinds of equipment that drivers utilize to transport materials from one place to another are known as forklifts. The machinery lifts pallets, also called 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 known as as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark marketed the very first forklifts during the early 1900s. These days most goods stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are commonly found in manufacturing factories and warehouses, where they are relied upon for the smooth operation of business.
The following are among the various kinds of pallet or skid lifts: 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; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced 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' - used for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is used for specialized applications. This hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles because it could offload and onload 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" version. These kinds of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machine must be utilized only on even and flat floors.