Forklifts are equipment that forklift drivers utilize to shuttle materials from one location to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The machinery lifts pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Sometimes, forklifts are also called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark advertised the very first forklifts during the early part of the 1900s. These days the majority of supplies are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found in manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are utilized to operate the business smoothly.
Among the various types of skid lifts or pallets are as follows: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "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 type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is used for specialized applications. This hybrid is recommended for really narrow aisles because 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" type. These trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment must be used only on floors which are even and flat.