The forklift has become such an important piece of equipment found and used in most industrial operations and warehousing, ever since its introduction to the market more than 90 years ago during the 1920's. One of the forklift's pioneers, Clark has grown to become an industry leading supplier in the material handling business. Other popular names in the making of these machines include: Mitsubishi, Cat, Toyota, Hyster, Nissan and Yale.
Hyster has grown to become one of the most popular models of forklifts in the business. The truth is, in some regions, the word "Hyster" is synonymous with forklift. Various other names for this industrial lifting equipment include: high/low, lift truck, jitney, fork truck and stacker truck.
The ancestor of today's machines was initially developed in the early part of the 19th century. At this time, small, battery-powered models were invented for the purpose of transporting traveler's luggage within Pennsylvania at the Altoona train station. During the First World War, some different versions were developed in England specifically to be used in the material handling business. These machinery evolved as a solution to the manpower shortage at that time.
The modern equivalents come in a range of sizes and configurations. There are the big truck-mounted lift truck models that 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 that are practically robotic in nature. These units were developed as a means of lowering operational costs and to improve production.
Attachments have been made to fit onto many common lift trucks, giving them the capability of performing a wider selection of tasks. The motors can be IC or internal combustion models, working on propane, diesel or gasoline, or there are battery operated options which require regular charging. Typical warehouse models would normally be rated to raise between approximately 1 and 5 tons.
The forklift has become a priceless part within the material handling industry. Thousands of these models are used each day all around the world to perform jobs which used to need a lot more man-power. Operators must take stringent training programs so as to legally and safely operate these heavy machines. Many workers have longer careers now and better health overall due to their not having to lift things manually anymore as the forklifts can handle those situations now instead.