Even if sales volumes have normally been small, around 1% to 5% of the global forklift market; side-loaders have become the paramount choice of machine in the material handling industry for handling unusual loads in a simple way.
Sideloaders are quite popular in the aluminum, timber, glass, steel, aviation and construction businesses. Moreover, they are used in businesses which are producing unusual things including windmill arms and moldings. Basically any industry which makes oversized long or awkward items utilizes the side-loaders.
Side-loaders were initially designed in the start of the 1950s by Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company. These models were designed in response to a request from the US Air Force. The first concept was patented for commercial utilization but it was not made until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company in the year 1959. It was Baker Raulang who made the design. Afterward, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. In the latter part of the 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The early units were designed by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's utilization within timber yards.
Side-loaders vary a bit from forward traveling, counterbalance forklifts in that they have their forks located on the side of the machine. The operator drives the machinery sitting inside a cabin like a traditional lift truck. The lifting, loading, and unloading functions are done by the mast situated at the right-hand side of the driver. The cargo is usually transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to reduce distortion, stress and damage to the cargo. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a large range of lifting accessories being developed.
Some of the benefits of utilizing side-loaders over reach-stackers or traditional lift trucks consist of: safer operating conditions, better visibility, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to use available space more effectively.
Only when you assess your work environment and kinds of applications you would be putting your machinery through, will you be able to accurately determine the best kind of machinery to finish your tasks. There are some good rental choices available too in order to determine the best type of machine to accomplish your requirements. Doing some research online or talking to a respectable dealer is another good way to get some information also when trying to figure out the best choice.