In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the kinds of machinery that operators utilize to shuttle supplies from one place to another are known as forklifts. The machinery carries pallets, also referred to as skids, that are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. Sometimes, forklifts are also referred to as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were marketed during the early part of the 1900s by companies such as Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. Today nearly all goods are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found inside manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
Some of the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets are the following: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also called "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
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is used for specialized applications. This hybrid is suggested 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 can lift up to 30 meters high. These types of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery should be utilized only on floors which are even and flat.