In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machinery that operators use to transport materials from one location to another are referred to as forklifts. The machinery lifts pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were marketed in the early 1900s by companies such as Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. These days the majority of goods stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are normally found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are relied upon to operate the business smoothly.
The following are among the various kinds of skid lifts or pallets: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet 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 known as "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' - 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 because it can onload and offload within very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind can lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery must just be utilized on flat and even floors.