The forklift has become such an important piece of equipment found and used in most warehousing and industrial operations, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago in the 1920's. One of the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling industry. Other well-known names in the making of these equipment comprise: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Nissan, Yale and Hyster.
Hyster has grown to become among the most popular models of forklifts in the business. As a matter of fact, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Various other names for this industrial lifting equipment include: jitney, high/low, lift truck, fork truck and stacker truck.
It was during the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was initially developed. At this time, small, battery-powered units were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station within Pennsylvania. In the First World War, several different kinds were developed within England specially to be used in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
Today's equipment come in various sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted forklift models and some of the larger machines, whilst the smaller machinery consist of hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are basically robotic in nature. These models were made as a way of lowering operational costs and to improve productivity.
A common lift truck is able to utilize a wide range of attachments which are capable of being added for a range of specific functions. The motors could be IC or internal combustion units, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options that need regular charging. Typical warehouse units would normally be rated to raise between roughly 1 and 5 tons.
Ever since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless component of the material handling business. Thousands of these models are used each day throughout the world to complete tasks which used to need a lot more man-power. Operators must take stringent training programs so as to run these heavy equipment legally and safely. Numerous employees have longer careers now and better overall health due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore because the forklifts can handle those situations now instead.