Forklifts are equipment which forklift drivers utilize to shuttle materials from one place to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machinery carries pallets, also known as skids, which are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. At times, forklifts are also referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were marketed during the early part of the 1900s by companies such as Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today nearly all goods are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found within manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
The following are amongst the various kinds of pallet or skid lifts: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie 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
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, such as the articulated counterbalance truck. This hybrid is recommended for really narrow aisles as it could onload and offload within really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind can lift up to 30 meters high. These types of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment should only be used on flat and even floors.