Since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an invaluable piece of equipment found in numerous warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, amongst the pioneers of the very first lift truck, has grown to become a leader in the material handling industry and still remains a top supplier. Other popular names in the manufacturing of these machinery consist of: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Hyster, Nissan and Yale.
The Hyster brand of forklift has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. As a matter of fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting equipment comprise: stacker truck, fork truck, lift truck, jitney and high/low.
The ancestor of today's equipment was first made in the early part of the 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered units were invented for the purpose of moving traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station in Pennsylvania. In the First World War, some different types were developed in England specially to be utilized in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's equipment come in various sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted lift truck units and several of the bigger machinery, whilst the smaller machinery consist of hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles that are basically robotic in nature. These units were made to improve productivity and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
A common forklift is able to utilize a huge range of attachments which are capable of being added for a variety of specific functions. The motors can be IC or internal combustion models, running on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options which require regular charging. Standard warehouse units will normally be rated to lift between about 1 and 5 tons.
Ever since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless part of the material handling business. Thousands of these models are used on a daily basis all around the globe to perform jobs which used to need much more man-power. Operators should take stringent training programs in order to safely and legally operate these heavy machines. Many employees have better overall health and longer careers now due to their not having to lift items manually anymore as the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.