In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machinery that operators use to transport supplies from one location to another are called forklifts. The equipment lifts pallets, also referred to as skids, which are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the pallet rungs. Sometimes, forklifts are also called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Stacker-Trucks and Side Loaders.
The very first forklifts were marketed in the early 1900s by companies like Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. Nowadays most goods are shipped to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are usually found in manufacturing factories and warehouses, where they are used for the smooth operation of business.
Among the different types of pallets or skid lifts are the following: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Electric counterbalanced truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also known as "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also known as "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck; 'Man Down' - used for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is used for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is suggested for really narrow aisles as it is capable of offloading and onloading in very tight spaces.
The Guided Very Narrow Aisle Trucks are capable of lifting as high as 12 meters, and even up to 30 meters if it is a "non top-tied" kind. These kinds of trucks are available in man-riser and man-down models. This machinery should be used only on flat and even floors.