In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the types of machines that operators utilize to shuttle materials from one place to another are referred to as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also known as skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the rungs of the pallet. At times, forklifts are also known as as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were advertised in the early part of the 1900s by companies like Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. Today nearly all supplies are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found within manufacturing factories and warehouses, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
Among the different types of skid lifts or pallets are as follows: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider 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' - for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, like for example the articulated counterbalance truck. This hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles since it is capable of onloading and offloading in very tight spaces.
The Guided Very Narrow Aisle Trucks are capable of lifting as high as 12 meters, and even up to 30 meters if it is a "non top-tied" type. These kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machine must be utilized only on flat and even floors.