Forklifts are machinery that forklift operators use to transport supplies from one place to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The equipment lifts pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The first forklifts were advertised in the early part of the 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today most supplies are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found inside manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Amongst the various 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; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also known as "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
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is used for specialized applications. This hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles as it could offload and onload within really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind can lift up to 30 meters high. These kinds of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machine should be utilized only on floors which are even and flat.