Forklifts are equipment that forklift drivers use to shuttle supplies from one location to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The equipment carries pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is made with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies such as Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing sold the very first forklifts during the early 1900s. These days most supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are usually found inside manufacturing factories and warehouses, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
The following are amongst the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking 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' - utilized for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, like for example the articulated counterbalance truck. This hybrid is recommended for really narrow aisles because it is capable of onloading and offloading within 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 kinds of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery should only be used on even and flat floors.