In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machines that operators utilize to shuttle materials from one place to another are called forklifts. The machinery carries pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Sometimes, forklifts are also known as as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark advertised the very first forklifts during the early part of the 1900s. These days the majority of goods stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are usually found in warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are utilized to operate the business smoothly.
Amongst the various types of pallets or skid lifts are as follows: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced 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 recommended for really narrow aisles as 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" kind can lift up to 30 meters high. These kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery should only be utilized on even and flat floors.