In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the kinds of machines which drivers utilize to transport supplies from one location to another are referred to as forklifts. The machine lifts pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes known as as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were sold during the early part of the 1900s by companies like Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. Today most supplies are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found in manufacturing factories and warehouses, where they are utilized to operate the business smoothly.
The following are some of the various kinds of skid lifts or pallets: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach 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 hybrid is suggested for very 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 down and man-riser models. This equipment must just be utilized on even and flat floors.