The forklift has become such an important piece of machine found and utilized in most industrial operations and warehousing, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago during the 1920's. Amongst the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling business. Other popular names in the making of these equipment include: Nissan, Yale, Hyster Toyota, Mitsubishi and Cat.
The Hyster type of forklift has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. In fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machines consist of: jitney, high/low, lift truck, stacker truck and fork truck.
The ancestor of today's machinery was first made in the early 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered units were made for the purpose of moving traveler's baggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During the First World War, various kinds were developed in England specially to be utilized in the material handling industry. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's machinery come in many configurations and sizes. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted forklift models and some of the bigger machines, whereas the smaller machinery consist of hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles which are practically robotic in nature. These models were made to improve production and as a way of lowering operational costs.
Attachments have been made to fit onto many regular lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of tasks. The motors can be IC or internal combustion units, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options that need regular charging. Typical warehouse models will usually be rated to raise between around 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless part within the material handling business. Thousands of these units are utilized each and every day throughout the globe to perform tasks which used to need a lot more man-power. Operators need to take stringent training programs in order to legally and safely operate these heavy machines. A lot of workers have longer careers now and better overall health due to their not having to raise objects by hand anymore because the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.