In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the types of machinery that operators utilize to shuttle materials from one place to another are referred to as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with objects. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Sometimes, forklifts are also called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark marketed the first forklifts in the early 1900s. Today nearly all supplies are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are usually found in warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Amongst the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also referred to as "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also known 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
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is utilized for specialized applications. This hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles because it is capable of onloading and offloading within really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" type could lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This equipment must be used only on floors that are even and flat.