Forklifts are machinery which forklift operators use to shuttle supplies from one place to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machine carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. At times, forklifts are also referred to as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark sold the very first forklifts in the early part of the 1900s. Today most supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are commonly found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are depended upon to operate the business smoothly.
The following are amongst the various types of skid lifts or pallets: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; 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
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck which is utilized for specialized applications. This hybrid is recommended for really narrow aisles because it can offload and onload in very tight spaces.
The Guided Very Narrow Aisle Trucks are capable of lifting as high as 12 meters, and even up to 30 meters if it is a "non top-tied" version. These trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery should be utilized only on even and flat floors.