The forklift has become such an invaluable 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 top supplier in the material handling industry. Other well-known names in the manufacturing of these equipment consist of: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Cat, Yale, Hyster and Nissan.
Hyster has grown to become amongst the most popular models of forklifts within the business. In fact, in several regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Other common names for this industrial lifting machinery consist of: jitney, high/low, lift truck, fork truck and stacker truck.
It was in the 19th century that the machine ancestors of the forklift was first developed. At this time, battery-powered, small units were invented for the purpose of moving traveler's baggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. In WWI, several different types were developed within England particularly for use in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the lack of manpower at that time.
Today's machinery come in numerous sizes and configurations. Sod loaders are big truck-mounted forklift units and some of the larger machinery, while the smaller equipment consist of hand truck models. There are also a line of automated versions known as forklift automated guided vehicles that are basically robotic in nature. These models were made as a way of lowering operational expenses and to improve productivity.
Attachments have been made to fit onto lots of common lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of jobs. The motors could be internal combustion or IC units, working on diesel, gasoline or propane, or there are battery operated options which need regular charging. Standard warehouse units would normally be rated to lift between roughly 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless component within the material handling industry. Thousands of these units are utilized on a daily basis throughout the globe to perform jobs that used to need a lot more man-power. Operators have to take stringent training programs so as to safely and legally operate these heavy machinery. A lot of employees have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to raise items by hand anymore because the forklifts could handle those situations now instead.