In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machines which drivers utilize to shuttle supplies from one place to another are called forklifts. The machine carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with things. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the rungs of the pallet. Sometimes, forklifts are also referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark advertised the very first forklifts in the early 1900s. Nowadays the majority of supplies stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are commonly found within warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
The following are among the various kinds of pallet or skid lifts: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Telescopic handler; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also called "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck ; 'Man Down' - used for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is used for specialized applications. This hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles since it can onload and offload in very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" type can lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This machine should be utilized only on flat and even floors.