In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machines that operators utilize to shuttle supplies from one location to another are called forklifts. The equipment carries pallets, also called skids, that are loaded with items. The lift truck is made with forks that insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The first forklifts were advertised in the early 1900s by companies like Yale & Towne Manufacturing and Clark. Nowadays nearly all supplies are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are normally found inside manufacturing plants and warehouses, where they are relied upon for the smooth operation of business.
The following are among the different types of skid lifts or pallets: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; IC counterbalanced truck; Sideloader; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also known as "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck; 'Man Down' - utilized for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a kind of counterbalanced forklift truck which is used for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles as it could onload and offload in really tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind could lift up to 30 meters high. These types of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machine must be utilized only on floors that are flat and even.