Ever since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an invaluable piece of machinery found in numerous warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, one of 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 machines include: Cat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Yale, Hyster and Nissan.
The Hyster type of forklift has become one of the industries most popular manufacturers. The fact is, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machines comprise: jitney, high/low, lift truck, stacker truck and fork truck.
It was in the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was first developed. At this time, battery-powered, small units were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. In the First World War, several different types were developed within England particularly for use in the material handling industry. These equipment evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower 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 referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles that are practically robotic in nature. These units were developed as a means of lowering operational costs and to improve productivity.
A common forklift is able to utilize a huge array of attachments that are capable of being added for a range of particular functions. The motors can be IC or internal combustion units, running on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Typical warehouse models would usually be rated to raise between about 1 and 5 tons.
The lift truck has become a priceless component within the material handling industry. Thousands of these models are utilized every day throughout the globe to perform jobs which used to require a lot more man-power. Operators should take stringent training programs so as to operate these heavy equipment legally and safely. Numerous employees have better health overall and longer careers now due to their not having to raise things manually anymore since the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.