In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the types of machinery that drivers use to shuttle supplies from one location to another are known as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also known as skids, which are loaded with things. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. At times, forklifts are also referred to as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were marketed in the early 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Today nearly all supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are usually found within warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
Some of the different kinds of pallets or skid lifts are the following: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie 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
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, such as the articulated counterbalance truck. This particular hybrid is recommended for really narrow aisles because it could offload and onload 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" kind. These kinds of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery should be utilized only on flat and even floors.