In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of equipment which operators utilize to transport materials from one place to another are referred to as forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also referred to as skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the pallet rungs. Every so often, forklifts are also known as as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The first forklifts were advertised in the early 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. These days nearly all supplies are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found in warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are used to operate the business smoothly.
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; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also known as "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also referred to 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 which is utilized for specialized applications. This hybrid is recommended for really narrow aisles because it could onload and offload 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 kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment should only be used on flat and even floors.