In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the types of machinery which drivers utilize to shuttle supplies from one location to another are known as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Every so often, forklifts are also called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The very first forklifts were marketed during the early part of the 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today nearly all goods are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are relied upon for the smooth operation of business.
The following are amongst the different kinds of pallet or skid lifts: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also referred to 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' - utilized for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles because it is capable of offloading and onloading within really 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 types of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment must only be used on floors that are flat and even.