Forklifts are equipment which forklift operators use to shuttle supplies from one place to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machine carries pallets, also referred to as skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. At times, forklifts are also called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were sold in the early 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. These days most supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are usually found in warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are relied upon to operate the business smoothly.
The following are amongst the different types of skid lifts or pallets: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; 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
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, such as the articulated counterbalance truck. This particular hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles as it is capable of onloading and offloading 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 machinery should just be utilized on even and flat floors.