The forklift has become such an invaluable piece of machine found and used in most industrial operations and warehousing, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago in the 1920's. Among the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling industry. Different other popular names in the making of these machines include: Yale, Hyster, Nissan Toyota, Mitsubishi and Cat.
The Hyster type of forklift has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. In fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Various other names for this industrial lifting machines include: high/low, lift truck, jitney, fork truck and stacker truck.
The ancestor of today's machines was first developed in the early part of the 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered units were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station within Pennsylvania. During WWI, several different types were developed within England specifically for use in the material handling industry. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of configurations and sizes. There are the big truck-mounted forklift models which are also referred to as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles that are practically robotic in nature. These models were developed to improve production and as a way of lowering operational costs.
Attachments have been made to fit onto many common lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of tasks. The motors could be IC or internal combustion units, running on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Typical warehouse units would normally be rated to raise between about 1 and 5 tons.
Ever since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless component of the material handling industry. Thousands of these units are used each day throughout the world to complete tasks that used to require much more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training courses so as to run these heavy machinery safely and legally. Many workers have better health overall and longer careers now due to their not having to lift objects manually anymore as the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.