Ever since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an invaluable piece of equipment found in numerous industrial operations and warehousing. Clark, amongst the pioneers of the first forklift, has grown to become a leader in the material handling business and still remains a top supplier. Different other popular names in the making of these equipment include: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Yale, Hyster and Nissan.
The Hyster brand of forklift has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. The fact is, in several places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Different other names for this industrial lifting machinery include: fork truck, stacker truck, lift truck, jitney and high/low.
It was in the 19th century that the machinery ancestors of the lift truck was first developed. At this time, small, battery-powered models were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During the First World War, some different versions were developed within England specially for use in the material handling business. These machines evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of configurations and sizes. There are the large truck-mounted forklift models which are also known as sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small hand truck units. There are also a line of automated versions referred to as forklift automated guided vehicles which are basically robotic in nature. These units were developed as a means of lowering operational expenses and to improve production.
Attachments have been made to fit onto a lot of regular forklifts, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of jobs. The motors could be internal combustion or IC models, working on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options that require regular charging. Typical warehouse units would usually be rated to lift between about 1 and 5 tons.
Since their evolution, lift trucks have become a priceless component of the material handling industry. Many of these models are utilized each day all over the globe to complete tasks which used to need much more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training courses so as to operate these heavy machinery safely and legally. Numerous employees have longer careers now and better overall health due to their not having to raise items manually anymore as the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.