Ever since its introduction in the early 1920s, the forklift has become an important piece of equipment found in numerous warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, one of the pioneers of the first forklift, has grown to become a leader in the material handling industry and still remains a leading supplier. Other popular names in the manufacturing of these equipment include: Yale, Hyster, Nissan Mitsubishi, Cat and Toyota.
The Hyster brand of lift truck has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. The truth is, in several places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Different other names for this industrial lifting machines include: high/low, lift truck, jitney, fork truck and stacker truck.
The ancestor of today's machines was first developed during the early 19th century. At this time, battery-powered, small models were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's baggage at the Altoona train station within Pennsylvania. During the First World War, various kinds were made within England specially to be utilized in the material handling industry. These machines evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
Today's machines come in many configurations and sizes. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted forklift units and several of the bigger machinery, while the smaller machines consist of 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 developed to improve productivity and as a means of lowering operational expenses.
A regular lift truck is able to utilize a wide array of attachments that are capable of being added for a range of specific functions. The motors could be IC or internal combustion models, running on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options that need regular charging. Standard warehouse models would normally be rated to raise between approximately 1 and 5 tons.
The lift truck has become a priceless component in the material handling industry. Many of these units are used on a daily basis all over the world to complete tasks which used to need much more man-power. Operators must take stringent training courses so as to run these heavy equipment legally and safely. Numerous workers have better overall health and longer careers now due to their not having to raise things by hand anymore since the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.