Since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an invaluable piece of machinery found in many warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, among the pioneers of the first lift truck, has grown to become a leader within the material handling business and still remains a top supplier. Various other popular names in the making of these machinery comprise: Yale, Hyster, Nissan Cat, Toyota and Mitsubishi.
The Hyster brand of lift truck has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. In fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Different other names for this industrial lifting equipment consist of: fork truck, stacker truck, high/low, lift truck and jitney.
The ancestor of today's machines was first made during the early part of the 19th century. At this time, battery-powered, small units were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage at the Altoona train station in Pennsylvania. In WWI, various kinds were made within England specifically to be used in the material handling business. These machines evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of sizes and configurations. There are the big truck-mounted lift truck models that are also known as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles that are basically robotic in nature. These models were made as a means of lowering operational expenses and to improve production.
Attachments have been made to fit onto lots of regular lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of tasks. The motors could be internal combustion or IC models, running on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options which require regular charging. Standard warehouse units will usually be rated to lift between roughly 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless component in the material handling business. Many of these models are used each day all around the world to complete jobs that used to require a lot more man-power. Operators must take stringent training courses in order to safely and legally run these heavy machinery. Numerous workers have better overall health and longer careers now due to their not having to lift objects manually anymore because the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.