Forklifts are machines that forklift operators use to shuttle supplies from one place to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machine carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Every so often, forklifts are also called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark marketed the first forklifts in the early part of the 1900s. Today most supplies stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are normally found within warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are used to operate the business smoothly.
Amongst the different types of pallets or skid lifts are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; 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
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, such as the articulated counterbalance truck. This particular hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles since 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 trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery should be used only on floors which are flat and even.