Even though sales volumes have typically been small, about 1% to 5% of the worldwide forklift market; side-loaders have become the dominant choice of machinery within the material handling industry for handling unconventional loads in a simple way.
Sideloaders are quite popular in the timber, aluminum, steel, glass, construction and aviation businesses. In addition, they are used in industries that are making unconventional items including moldings, and windmill arms. Basically any business which produces oversized long or awkward objects utilizes the side-loaders.
In the start of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company originally made the sideloader forklift. These early units were requested from the US Air Force. The initial concept was patented for commercial application but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company during 1959. It was Baker Raulang who put the design into production. Afterward, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the late 1950s, the side-loaders were introduced to Europe. The beginning models were designed by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the machine's use within timber yards.
The side-loader is a bit different from the counterbalanced forklift, as the traditional forward-traveling lift trucks have front facing forks whilst the side-loader has side facing forks. The operator however will drive inside a cabin like those used in standard forklifts. The loading, unloading and lifting functions are done by the mast situated at the right-hand side of the driver. The cargo is normally transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to lessen stress, distortion and damage to the cargo. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a large range of lifting accessories being developed.
A few of the benefits of using side-loaders over reach-stackers or conventional lift trucks consist of: enhanced visibility, safer operating conditions, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to use available space more efficiently.
Only when you assess your work environment and kinds of applications you will be putting your equipment through, will you be able to precisely determine the right type of machine to complete your tasks. There are some great rental choices available as well in order to determine the right type of machinery to suit all your needs. Doing some research online or talking to a respectable dealer is another good way to get some information as well when trying to figure out the right alternative.