Ever since its introduction in the early 1920s, the lift truck has become an invaluable piece of machinery found in many warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, among the pioneers of the first forklift, has grown to become a leader within the material handling industry and still remains a leading supplier. Different other popular names in the making of these machines comprise: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Nissan, Yale and Hyster.
The Hyster brand of lift truck has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. As a matter of fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machinery comprise: stacker truck, fork truck, lift truck, jitney and high/low.
The ancestor of today's machinery was initially developed during the early part of the 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered models were invented for the purpose of moving traveler's baggage at the Altoona train station in Pennsylvania. In WWI, some different versions were made in England specially to be utilized in the material handling business. These equipment evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower 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 known as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are practically robotic in nature. These models were developed as a means of lowering operational expenses and to improve production.
Attachments have been made to fit onto numerous common forklifts, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of jobs. The motors could be IC or internal combustion units, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options that require regular charging. Standard warehouse units would normally be rated to raise between around 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless part within the material handling business. Many of these units are utilized each day throughout the globe to perform tasks which used to need a lot more man-power. Operators should take stringent training programs in order to operate these heavy equipment legally and safely. Numerous employees have better health overall and longer careers now due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore since the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.