Sideloaders have become a terrific choice for lots of businesses needing to perform handling tasks on unusual cargo. Sales of these models are small though, taking up 1% to 5% of the global forklift market.
Sideloaders are rather popular within the timber, aluminum, steel, glass, construction and aviation businesses. In addition, they are used in industries which are making unusual items including moldings, and windmill arms. Basically any business which produces awkward or oversized long items utilizes the side-loaders.
During the beginning of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company initially designed the sideloader forklift. These early models were requested from the United States Air Force. The first concept was patented for commercial utilization but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company during 1959. It was Baker Raulang who put the design into production. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the latter part of the 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The early models were designed by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's use within timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a bit from forward traveling, counterbalance lift trucks in that they have their forks situated on the side of the machinery. The operator drives the machine sitting inside a cabin similar to a standard lift truck. The unloading, lifting and loading functions are done by the mast located at the right-hand side of the driver. The cargo is typically transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to decrease distortion, stress and damage to the cargo. New innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a large range of lifting accessories being developed.
The use of side-loaders as opposed to the reach-stackers or traditional lift trucks: enhanced visibility, safer operating conditions, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to utilize available space more efficiently.
You would only be able to accurately know the right type of machinery to finish your tasks, when you have fully assessed the work environment and types of tasks you would be performing. There are some good rental choices available too in order to determine the best kind of equipment to suit your requirements. Doing some research on the World Wide Web or talking to a respectable dealer is one more great way to get some information also when trying to know the right alternative.