In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the types of equipment which drivers use to transport supplies from one location to another are called forklifts. The equipment lifts pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is made with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were marketed in the early part of the 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today nearly all goods are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found in manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
Among the different kinds of pallets or skid lifts are the following: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "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 kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is used for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles since it is capable of onloading and offloading in really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind could lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machine must just be utilized on flat and even floors.