The lift truck has become such an important piece of equipment found and utilized in most industrial operations and warehousing, 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 leading supplier in the material handling business. Other popular names in the manufacturing of these machines consist of: Cat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyster, Nissan and Yale.
The Hyster brand of forklift has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. In fact, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machinery include: jitney, high/low, lift truck, fork truck and stacker truck.
It was during the 19th century that the machinery ancestors of the lift truck was first developed. At this time, small, battery-powered units were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's baggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During WWI, various types were developed within England specifically to be used in the material handling business. These machines evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's equipment come in numerous configurations and sizes. Sod loaders are large truck-mounted forklift models and several of the larger equipment, while the smaller machines 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 units were made as a way of lowering operational costs and to improve productivity.
A regular forklift is able to utilize a wide range of attachments that are capable of being added for a range of particular functions. The motors could be IC or internal combustion models, running on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options that require regular charging. Typical warehouse models will usually be rated to lift between around 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless component in the material handling industry. Thousands of these models are used on a daily basis all over the world to complete jobs that used to need a lot more man-power. Operators need to take stringent training courses in order to operate these heavy equipment safely and legally. Numerous workers have better overall health and longer careers now due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore as the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.