Forklifts are equipment that forklift drivers use to shuttle supplies from one location to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machinery lifts pallets, also known as skids, which are loaded with things. The lift truck is made with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes known as as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were sold in the early part of the 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today most goods are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found inside warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are depended upon for the smooth operation of business.
The following are among the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; 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 type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles because it is capable of offloading and onloading within 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 types of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This equipment must just be used on flat and even floors.