Ever since its introduction in the early 1920s, the lift truck has become an invaluable piece of machine found in many industrial operations and warehousing. Clark, amongst the pioneers of the very first forklift, has grown to become a leader in the material handling industry and still remains a top supplier. Different other well-known names in the making of these machines consist of: Hyster, Nissan, Yale Mitsubishi, Cat and Toyota.
Hyster has grown to become one of the most popular models of lift trucks within the industry. As a matter of fact, in several places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machines consist of: stacker truck, fork truck, jitney, high/low and lift truck.
The ancestor of today's equipment was first developed in the early part of the 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered models were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. In WWI, various versions were made within England specially for use in the material handling industry. These equipment evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of configurations and sizes. There are the large truck-mounted forklift units which are also referred to as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are basically robotic in nature. These models were made to improve production and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
Attachments have been made to fit onto numerous common lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of jobs. The motors can be IC or internal combustion models, running on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options that need regular charging. Standard warehouse units will normally be rated to raise between about 1 and 5 tons.
Ever since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless component of the material handling industry. Many of these units are used each day throughout the world to complete jobs that used to require a lot more man-power. Operators need to take stringent training programs so as to operate these heavy machines legally and safely. Many workers have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to raise things by hand anymore since the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.