In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machines that operators utilize to transport materials from one place to another are known as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Every so often, forklifts are also known as as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark sold the first forklifts during the early 1900s. Today nearly all supplies stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are normally found inside warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Among the various types of skid lifts or pallets are the following: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; 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 kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is used for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles as it is capable of offloading and onloading in very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" type can lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machine must be utilized only on even and flat floors.