Ever since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an important piece of equipment found in many warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, one of the pioneers of the very first lift truck, has grown to become a leader in the material handling business and still remains a top supplier. Various other well-known names in the manufacturing of these machines consist of: Cat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Yale, Hyster and Nissan.
Hyster has grown to become amongst the most popular models of lift trucks in the business. The fact is, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Various other names for this industrial lifting equipment comprise: high/low, lift truck, jitney, fork truck and stacker truck.
It was during the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was first developed. At this time, small, battery-powered models were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station within Pennsylvania. During WWI, various types were made in England specially to be used in the material handling business. These equipment evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's equipment come in numerous sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted lift truck models and some of the bigger machinery, while the smaller machines consist of hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles that are basically robotic in nature. These models were made to improve productivity and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
A regular lift truck is able to use a huge array of attachments that are capable of being added for a range of specific functions. The motors could be internal combustion or IC models, working on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options that require regular charging. Typical warehouse models will normally be rated to raise between around 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless part within the material handling business. Many of these units are utilized on a daily basis throughout the world to complete jobs which used to need a lot more man-power. Operators should take stringent training programs so as to run these heavy machines legally and safely. Lots of workers have better health overall and longer careers now due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore because the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.