The forklift has become such an important piece of equipment found and utilized in most warehousing and industrial operations, 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 top supplier in the material handling business. Other popular names in the manufacturing of these machines comprise: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Cat, Hyster, Nissan and Yale.
The Hyster brand of lift truck has become among the industries most popular manufacturers. The truth is, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machinery include: fork truck, stacker truck, lift truck, jitney and high/low.
The ancestor of today's equipment was first made in the early 19th century. At this time, battery-powered, small units were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During WWI, some different types were developed in England particularly to be used in the material handling industry. These equipment evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a variety of configurations and sizes. There are the big truck-mounted lift truck models that are also called 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 units were developed as a means of lowering operational expenses and to improve production.
A common forklift is able to use a wide range of attachments which are capable of being added for a range of particular functions. The motors can be IC or internal combustion units, working on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options which require regular charging. Standard warehouse units would normally be rated to raise between about 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless component within the material handling business. Many of these models are used on a daily basis throughout the world to perform tasks that used to require much more man-power. Operators must take stringent training programs so as to run these heavy equipment legally and safely. Numerous workers have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to raise things manually anymore as the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.