Forklifts are machines that forklift drivers use to shuttle materials from one location to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The machinery lifts pallets, also called skids, which are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark marketed the first forklifts in the early part of the 1900s. These days the majority of goods are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found within manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are depended upon for the smooth operation of business.
The following are some of the various kinds of pallet or skid lifts: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also known 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 recommended for really narrow aisles since it can offload and onload within very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind could lift up to 30 meters high. These kinds of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery should be utilized only on floors that are flat and even.