The forklift has become such an important piece of machine found and used in most industrial operations and warehousing, since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago in the 1920's. Amongst the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling industry. Various other popular names in the making of these machines include: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Cat, Nissan, Yale and Hyster.
Hyster has grown to become among the most popular models of lift trucks in the business. As a matter of fact, in several places, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting equipment comprise: lift truck, jitney, high/low, fork truck and stacker truck.
It was during the 19th century that the machinery ancestors of the lift truck was first made. At this time, small, battery-powered models were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's baggage at the Altoona train station in Pennsylvania. In WWI, several different versions were made in England specifically for use in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
Today's equipment come in various configurations and sizes. Sod loaders are large truck-mounted forklift models and some of the larger machines, whilst the smaller machines consist of 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 models were developed to improve production and as a way of lowering operational expenses.
A regular forklift is able to utilize a wide array of attachments which are capable of being added for a range of specific functions. The motors could be IC or internal combustion models, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options which require regular charging. Standard warehouse units would usually be rated to lift between approximately 1 and 5 tons.
The lift truck has become a priceless component in the material handling industry. Many of these models are used on a daily basis all around the globe to complete tasks that used to need a lot more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training programs in order to legally and safely run these heavy machines. A lot of workers have better health overall and longer careers now due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore since the forklifts are capable of handling those situations now instead.