The lift truck has become such an important piece of machinery found and used in most industrial operations and warehousing, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago in the 1920's. Among the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry top supplier in the material handling industry. Various other well-known names in the making of these equipment comprise: Hyster, Nissan, Yale Mitsubishi, Cat and Toyota.
Hyster has grown to become one of the most popular models of lift trucks within the business. In fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting equipment include: fork truck, stacker truck, lift truck, jitney and high/low.
The ancestor of today's machinery was initially made in the early part of the 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered models were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station within Pennsylvania. During WWI, various kinds were made in England particularly for use in the material handling business. These equipment evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
Today's machines come in many configurations and sizes. Sod loaders are large truck-mounted forklift units and some of the bigger equipment, whereas the smaller machinery consist of hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles that are basically robotic in nature. These units were made to improve production and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
A regular forklift is able to use a huge range of attachments which are capable of being added for a variety of specific functions. The motors can be IC or internal combustion models, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Typical warehouse models will usually be rated to raise between about 1 and 5 tons.
Ever since their evolution, lift trucks have become a priceless part of the material handling business. Many of these models are used each day all around the globe to complete tasks that used to need much more man-power. Operators need to take stringent training programs so as to safely and legally operate these heavy machinery. Lots of employees have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to lift objects by hand anymore as the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.