In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machinery which drivers use to shuttle materials from one location to another are called forklifts. The machine lifts pallets, also referred to as skids, which are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. At times, forklifts are also called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark advertised the very first forklifts during the early 1900s. Today nearly all supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are normally found in warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
Among the various types of skid lifts or pallets are the following: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking 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' - utilized 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 hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles since it is capable of offloading and onloading 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 down and man-riser models. This machine should just be used on floors which are even and flat.