Sideloaders have become a great option for a lot of businesses needing to perform handling tasks on unusual cargo. Sales of these models are small however, taking up 1% to 5% of the global forklift market.
Sideloaders are quite common within the aluminum, timber, glass, steel, aviation and construction industries. Moreover, they are used within businesses which are producing unconventional items like moldings, and windmill arms. Practically any industry which produces oversized long or awkward objects utilizes the side-loaders.
Side-loaders were originally made during the beginning of the 1950s by Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company. These units were made in response to a request from the US Air Force. The original concept was patented for commercial utilization but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company in 1959. It was Baker Raulang who produced the design. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. In the late 1950s, the side-loaders were introduced to Europe. The beginning units were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the machine's utilization within timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a little from forward traveling, counterbalance forklifts in that they have their forks located on the side of the machinery. The operator drives the machinery sitting in a cabin similar to a conventional lift truck. The unloading, lifting and loading functions are performed by the mast located at the driver's right-hand side. The load is usually transported lying on a metal or wooden deck. This helps to reduce stress, distortion and damage to the cargo. New innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a large variety of lifting accessories being developed.
The utilization of side-loaders as opposed to the reach-stackers or traditional forklifts: enhanced visibility, safer operating conditions, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to use available space more effectively.
You would only be able to precisely know the right type of equipment to complete your tasks, when you have completely assessed the work environment and types of jobs you will be completing. There are some great rental alternatives available too in order to know the best type of machinery to accomplish your requirements. Doing some research on the World Wide Web or talking to a respectable dealer is one more good way to get some information also when trying to figure out the right choice.