Forklifts are equipment that forklift drivers use to transport materials from one location to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The equipment 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. Forklifts are also sometimes referred to as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark sold the very first forklifts during the early 1900s. Today the majority of goods are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found within warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Amongst the various kinds of pallets or skid lifts 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; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also referred to as "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' - 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 particular hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles because it could onload and offload within very 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 kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery must only be utilized on even and flat floors.