Forklifts are machinery that forklift drivers use to transport supplies from one place to another in manufacturing and warehouse environments. The machine lifts pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is made with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes called Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The first forklifts were marketed during the early 1900s by companies such as Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. These days nearly all supplies are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found in manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are relied upon to operate the business smoothly.
Amongst the various types of pallets or skid lifts are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking 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' - utilized 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 recommended for really narrow aisles since it can offload and onload 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 types of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery must be utilized only on even and flat floors.