Vertical-mast and rough terrain forklift marketers have endured in spite of overall diminished sales. There are at least 19 different lift truck brands within North America, with over 100 various models available all around the world. In regards to manufacturers, there is practically the same number of telehandler makers, even if their products are being marketed under 24 different brands. Understandably, some of the brand names market both lift trucks and telehandlers. Several of the key players in the industry consist of names like Lift King, Tovel, JCB, Case, Omega Lift, Ingersoll Rand, Sellick and Manitou.
By borrowing several of the features which have increased the telehandler's fame, forklift makers have been able to increase their maneuverability advantages. For example, Tovel, Manitou, AUSA and Omega Lift use hydraulic chassis-leveling systems that allow the operator to square up the frame of the truck when it is sitting on uneven terrain in order for lifts to be made more safely. This particular feature is offered as an option by Load Lifter, Lift King and Swinger lift trucks.
One more telehandler-like technology is the 4-wheel steer. Omega Lift, Lift King, Load Lifter and Tovel all provide extremely durable and rigid framed machines operating on 4 equal sized tires. These four-wheel coordinated steering and crab-steering modes offer the fantastic maneuverability that rivals the 4-wheeled steering traditional lift truck models. There are extra flexibility options with the sideways shuttle crab-steer mode too.
The carriage sideshift could greatly enhance placement dexterity. The mast sideshift is a common feature today. This is found on most lift trucks available. It allows the operator to hydraulically move the mast a few inches to either side of center. One more option is the carriage sideshift. This works by moving the carriage to both sides of the center of the mast.