In warehouse and manufacturing environments, the types of equipment that drivers use to transport materials from one place to another are called forklifts. The machinery lifts pallets, also referred to as skids, that are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Forklifts are also sometimes referred to as Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were marketed during the early part of the 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Nowadays nearly all supplies stores on pallets and are delivered to warehouses. Forklifts are normally found inside warehouses and manufacturing factories, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Among the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets are the following: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also known as "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
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles since it is capable of onloading and offloading in 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 types of trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machinery should only be used on flat and even floors.