Forklifts are machinery which forklift drivers use to transport materials from one location to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machine lifts pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Every so often, forklifts are also referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark advertised the very first forklifts in the early 1900s. These days the majority of goods are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are usually found within warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are depended upon to operate the business smoothly.
The following are some of the different kinds of pallet or skid lifts: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; 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
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, like for example the articulated counterbalance truck. This particular hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles because it is capable of offloading and onloading in 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" type. These kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machine must only be utilized on floors which are flat and even.