Since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an important piece of machine found in many industrial operations and warehousing. Clark, amongst the pioneers of the first forklift, has grown to become a leader within the material handling industry and still remains a top supplier. Other popular names in the manufacturing of these machinery include: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Hyster, Nissan and Yale.
Hyster has grown to become amongst the most popular models of lift trucks within the industry. The truth is, in some regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Different other names for this industrial lifting machines comprise: stacker truck, fork truck, jitney, high/low and lift truck.
It was during the 19th century that the machinery ancestors of the lift truck was first developed. At this time, battery-powered, small units were made for the purpose of moving traveler's luggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. In the First World War, several different kinds were made in England specifically to be used in the material handling industry. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of configurations and sizes. There are the large truck-mounted lift truck models that are also called sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are basically robotic in nature. These models were made to improve productivity and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
Attachments have been made to fit onto many regular forklifts, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of tasks. The motors could be IC or internal combustion units, running on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options that need regular charging. Typical warehouse units would usually be rated to raise between roughly 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 on a daily basis throughout the globe to complete tasks that used to require much more man-power. Operators should take stringent training courses in order to run these heavy machines safely and legally. A lot of workers have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to raise objects by hand anymore because the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.