Even if sales volumes have typically been small, around 1% to 5% of the international forklift market; side-loaders have become the dominant choice of machinery within the material handling business for handling unusual loads in a simple manner.
Commonly, side-loaders are utilized in the aluminum, timber, glass, steel, construction and aviation industries. Furthermore, they are utilized within industries which are producing unusual things like for instance windmill arms and moldings. Basically any industry that produces oversized long or awkward objects uses the side-loaders.
During the beginning of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company originally made the sideloader forklift. These early models were requested from the US Air Force. The first concept was patented for commercial utilization but it was not made until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company in the year 1959. It was Baker Raulang who made the design. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. In the late 1950s, the side-loaders were introduced to Europe. The early units were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the machine's use in timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a bit from counterbalance, forward-traveling forklifts in that they have their forks situated on the side of the machine. The operator drives the machinery sitting in a cabin similar to a traditional lift truck. The loading, unloading and lifting functions are performed by the mast situated at the driver's right-hand side. The cargo is normally transported lying on a metal or wooden deck. This helps to lessen stress, distortion and damage to the cargo. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a huge variety of lifting accessories being developed.
The utilization of side-loaders rather than the reach-stackers or standard lift trucks: safer operating conditions, enhanced visibility, and the ability to use available space more effectively along with faster traveling speeds.
Only once you evaluate your work setting and kinds of applications you would be putting your machinery through, would you be able to precisely know the right kind of machinery to complete your tasks. There are a few great rental alternatives available too in order to know the best type of equipment to suit all your needs. Doing some research on the World Wide Web or talking to a respectable dealer is one more great way to get some information as well when trying to figure out the best choice.