The forklift has become such an invaluable piece of equipment found and utilized in most industrial operations and warehousing, since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago in the 1920's. One of the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry top supplier in the material handling business. Various other well-known names in the manufacturing of these machinery include: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Nissan, Yale and Hyster.
The Hyster type of forklift has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. The truth is, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machinery consist of: stacker truck, fork truck, jitney, high/low and lift truck.
It was in the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the lift truck was first made. At this time, small, battery-powered models were made for the purpose of moving traveler's baggage at the Altoona train station in Pennsylvania. In the First World War, various kinds were developed within England particularly for use in the material handling industry. These equipment evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's machines come in various sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted forklift units and several of the bigger equipment, whereas the smaller equipment consist of hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are practically robotic in nature. These units were made to improve production and as a way of lowering operational costs.
A regular forklift is able to use a huge range of attachments which are capable of being added for a range of particular functions. The motors could be internal combustion or IC models, working on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Typical warehouse units would usually be rated to raise between roughly 1 and 5 tons.
The lift truck has become a priceless component within the material handling business. Thousands of these units are utilized on a daily basis all around the world to perform jobs that used to need much more man-power. Operators should take stringent training courses so as to legally and safely run these heavy machinery. Numerous workers have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to lift objects by hand anymore because the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.