Ever since its introduction during the early 1920s, the lift truck has become an important piece of machinery found in many industrial operations and warehousing. Clark, among the pioneers of the first lift truck, has grown to become a leader within the material handling business and still remains a leading supplier. Other popular names in the manufacturing of these machinery include: Nissan, Yale, Hyster Toyota, Mitsubishi and Cat.
Hyster has grown to become among the most popular models of forklifts in the business. In fact, in some regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machines comprise: fork truck, stacker truck, jitney, high/low and lift truck.
It was during the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was initially made. At this time, battery-powered, small units were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's baggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During WWI, several different versions were made in England specifically to be used in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a variety of configurations and sizes. There are the big truck-mounted lift truck models which are also referred to as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles that are practically robotic in nature. These units were made as a means of lowering operational expenses and to improve productivity.
A regular forklift is able to utilize a wide array of attachments which are capable of being added for a variety of specific functions. The motors can be IC or internal combustion models, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options that need regular charging. Typical warehouse models would normally be rated to raise between around 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless part in the material handling industry. Thousands of these units are utilized on a daily basis all around the world to perform jobs that used to require much more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training courses so as to operate these heavy equipment legally and safely. Numerous workers have better health overall and longer careers now due to their not having to raise things manually anymore since the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.