Forklifts are machinery which forklift operators use to transport materials from one place to another in warehouse and manufacturing environments. The machinery carries pallets, also referred to as skids, which are loaded with items. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes known as as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were advertised in the early 1900s by companies like Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. Nowadays most supplies are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are usually found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are utilized to operate the business smoothly.
Some of 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; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also referred to as "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck ; 'Man Down' - used 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 particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles as it could offload and onload 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 trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This equipment should be used only on floors which are flat and even.