In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machinery that drivers utilize to transport materials from one location to another are called forklifts. The machinery lifts pallets, also referred to as skids, which are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The first forklifts were advertised during the early part of the 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Nowadays most goods stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are normally found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
Among the various types of pallets or skid lifts are the following: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; 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 called "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 recommended for very narrow aisles because 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" kind could lift up to 30 meters high. These kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment must be used only on floors which are even and flat.