Since its introduction during the early 1920s, the forklift has become an important piece of equipment found in many warehousing and industrial operations. Clark, among the pioneers of the first forklift, has grown to become a leader within the material handling business and still remains a leading supplier. Different other well-known names in the making of these equipment consist of: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Nissan, Yale and Hyster.
The Hyster brand of forklift has become amongst the industries most popular manufacturers. In fact, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Different other names for this industrial lifting machinery comprise: fork truck, stacker truck, high/low, lift truck and jitney.
It was in the 19th century that the equipment ancestors of the forklift was initially made. At this time, small, battery-powered models were invented for the purpose of moving traveler's luggage in Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During the First World War, various kinds were developed within England specifically for use in the material handling industry. These machinery evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of sizes and configurations. There are the big truck-mounted lift truck units which are also known as 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 to improve productivity and as a means of lowering operational costs.
A regular forklift is able to utilize a huge array of attachments which are capable of being added for a variety of specific functions. The motors can be IC or internal combustion units, running on gasoline, propane or diesel, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Typical warehouse units will usually be rated to raise between approximately 1 and 5 tons.
Since their evolution, forklifts have become a priceless part of the material handling business. Thousands of these units are utilized each and every day all over the world to perform tasks that used to require much more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training programs in order to legally and safely run these heavy equipment. Many employees have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore since the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.