Forklifts are machines that forklift drivers use to shuttle materials from one location to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The equipment carries pallets, also known as skids, which are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Every so often, forklifts are also called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were advertised during the early 1900s by companies such as Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Nowadays the majority of goods are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are usually found in warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are depended upon to operate the business smoothly.
Some of 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; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also known as "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 which is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles as it is capable of offloading and onloading within really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" type can lift up to 30 meters high. These types of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This equipment should be utilized only on flat and even floors.