Forklifts are equipment which forklift drivers utilize to shuttle supplies from one location to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The machinery lifts pallets, also referred to as skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were advertised in the early 1900s by companies such as Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today the majority of supplies are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are usually found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are relied upon to operate the business smoothly.
Among the different types of skid lifts or pallets are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking 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' - for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles since it is capable of onloading and offloading in very 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 trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery must be utilized only on even and flat floors.