The lift truck has become such an invaluable piece of machinery found and used in most warehousing and industrial operations, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago in the 1920's. Among the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling industry. Different other well-known names in the manufacturing of these machinery consist of: Nissan, Yale, Hyster Mitsubishi, Cat and Toyota.
The Hyster type of forklift has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. The fact is, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Various other names for this industrial lifting machines comprise: stacker truck, fork truck, high/low, lift truck and jitney.
It was during the 19th century that the equipment ancestors of the lift truck was initially developed. At this time, battery-powered, small models were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station within Pennsylvania. During the First World War, various versions were made within England specially to be utilized in the material handling business. These equipment evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's equipment come in many sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted forklift units and some of the bigger machines, while the smaller machinery consist of hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles which are basically robotic in nature. These models were made as a way of lowering operational costs and to improve production.
A regular forklift is able to use a wide array of attachments which are capable of being added for a variety of specific functions. The motors could be internal combustion or IC models, running on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options that require regular charging. Standard warehouse units will usually be rated to raise between approximately 1 and 5 tons.
Since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless part of the material handling business. Thousands of these models are utilized on a daily basis all around the globe to perform jobs which used to need much more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training programs in order to operate these heavy equipment legally and safely. A lot of employees have better overall health and longer careers now due to their not having to lift objects by hand anymore as the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.