Forklifts are machines which forklift drivers use to shuttle supplies from one location to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The equipment carries pallets, also called skids, which are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. At times, forklifts are also referred to as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The very first forklifts were advertised during the early part of the 1900s by companies such as Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Nowadays most goods stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are usually found within warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are depended upon to operate the business smoothly.
Amongst the various types of pallets or skid lifts are the following: 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; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also referred to as "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck ; 'Man Down' - utilized 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 very narrow aisles since it could offload and onload in very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" type can 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 flat and even.