The lift truck has become such an invaluable piece of equipment found and used in most industrial operations and warehousing, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago during the 1920's. Among the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry top supplier in the material handling business. Different other well-known names in the manufacturing of these machines consist of: Hyster, Nissan, Yale Toyota, Mitsubishi and Cat.
The Hyster brand of forklift has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. In fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting equipment include: fork truck, stacker truck, lift truck, jitney and high/low.
It was during the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was initially made. At this time, battery-powered, small models were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's baggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. In WWI, various versions were made within England specifically for use in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a variety of sizes and configurations. There are the big truck-mounted forklift models that are also referred to as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are practically robotic in nature. These units were made to improve production and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
A regular lift truck is able to use a wide array of attachments that are capable of being added for a range of particular functions. The motors can be internal combustion or IC units, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Standard warehouse units will usually be rated to raise between roughly 1 and 5 tons.
Since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless component of the material handling industry. Thousands of these models are utilized each day all around the world to perform tasks that used to require a lot more man-power. Operators should take stringent training courses in order to legally and safely run these heavy machinery. Numerous workers have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to lift objects by hand anymore as the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.