Even though sales volumes have usually been small, approximately 1% to 5% of the international forklift market; side-loaders have become the dominant choice of machinery in the material handling business for dealing with unusual loads in a simple way.
Sideloaders are rather common within the aluminum, timber, steel, glass, aviation and construction industries. Furthermore, they are used in businesses which are making unusual items like for example windmill arms and moldings. Practically any business which makes oversized long or awkward objects uses the side-loaders.
Side-loaders were initially designed during the start of the 1950s by Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company. These models were designed in response to a request from the US Air Force. The original concept was patented for commercial application but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company during 1959. It was Baker Raulang who put the design into production. Afterward, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the latter part of the 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The early models were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's use in timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a little from counterbalance, forward-traveling lift trucks in that they have their forks situated on the side of the machinery. The operator drives the machine sitting in a cabin similar to a conventional forklift. The loading, unloading and lifting functions are performed by the mast located at the driver's right-hand side. The load is normally transported lying on a metal or wooden deck. This helps to decrease distortion, stress and damage to the load. New innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a large range of lifting accessories being developed.
A few of the benefits of utilizing side-loaders over reach-stackers or traditional lift trucks comprise: safer operating conditions, enhanced visibility, and the ability to utilize available space more effectively in addition to faster traveling speeds.
Only when you evaluate your work environment and kinds of applications you will be putting your equipment through, would you be able to precisely know the right kind of machinery to complete your tasks. There are a few good rental choices available too in order to know the right kind of equipment to meet all your needs. 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 best choice.