In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machinery which drivers utilize to transport supplies from one place to another are referred to as forklifts. The machinery carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is made 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, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies like Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark sold the first forklifts in the early part of the 1900s. These days most supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are commonly found inside warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are utilized for the smooth operation of business.
The following are amongst the various types of pallet or skid lifts: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also known 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 used for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is suggested for very narrow aisles because it is capable of offloading and onloading within very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind could lift up to 30 meters high. These kinds of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment should be used only on floors that are flat and even.