In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the kinds of machines that drivers utilize to shuttle supplies from one location to another are referred to as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with objects. The lift truck is made with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Every so often, forklifts are also known as as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies such as Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing sold the first forklifts during the early 1900s. These days nearly all goods stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are commonly found inside warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Amongst the different kinds of pallets or skid lifts are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider 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 referred to as "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck ; 'Man Down' - used for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is utilized for specialized applications. This hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles because it is capable of offloading and onloading within really 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 trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery must only be used on flat and even floors.