The forklift has become such an invaluable piece of equipment found and utilized in most warehousing and industrial operations, since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago during the 1920's. One of the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry top supplier in the material handling industry. Different other popular names in the manufacturing of these equipment include: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Cat, Nissan, Yale and Hyster.
The Hyster brand of forklift has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. As a matter of fact, in some places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machines consist of: lift truck, jitney, high/low, fork truck and stacker truck.
It was in the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was first made. At this time, battery-powered, small units were made for the purpose of transporting traveler's baggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During the First World War, various kinds were developed within England specially to be utilized in the material handling business. These machines evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a variety of sizes and configurations. There are the big truck-mounted lift truck units that are also called sod loaders and then the opposite end of the spectrum has small 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 developed to improve productivity and as a way of lowering operational costs.
Attachments have been made to fit onto a lot of regular lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of jobs. The motors could be IC or internal combustion units, working on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options which require regular charging. Typical warehouse units will usually be rated to raise between approximately 1 and 5 tons.
The lift truck has become a priceless part in the material handling business. Thousands of these units are used every day all over the world to perform jobs that used to require much more man-power. Operators must take stringent training programs so as to operate these heavy machinery legally and safely. Numerous employees have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to raise things manually anymore because the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.